Vatican City — Pope Leo XIV held separate telephone conversations on Friday with Isaac Herzog and Volodymyr Zelensky, focusing on ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe and the urgent need for diplomatic solutions.
The Vatican said the American-born pontiff discussed humanitarian conditions in both regions and stressed renewed dialogue. In his call with Herzog, the two leaders “reaffirmed the need to reopen all possible channels of diplomatic dialogue to bring an end to the serious ongoing conflict, with a view to achieving a just and lasting peace throughout the Middle East.”
The Vatican statement added, “The conversation also focused on the importance of protecting the civilian population and promoting respect for international and humanitarian law.”
The discussions took place during the Christian Holy Week leading to Easter Sunday. At the same time, Israel was observing the Jewish Passover period, while Ukraine was preparing for Orthodox Easter scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2026.
According to Herzog’s office, both leaders exchanged holiday greetings before addressing security developments. They discussed tensions involving Iran and regional threats. The statement referred to “including the ongoing threat of missile attacks by the Iranian regime and its terror proxies against people of all faiths in the region.” The conversation also addressed “the importance of the safety and security of Christian communities on both sides of the border” in relation to Lebanon.
In a separate conversation with Zelensky, the pope offered “best wishes for the Easter holidays,” and both leaders examined humanitarian needs. The Vatican said they also discussed “the urgency of providing the necessary aid to the population suffering from the conflict.”
“Reference was also made to efforts aimed at promoting humanitarian initiatives, especially regarding the release of prisoners,” the Vatican added.
Okay News reports that the Vatican has attempted to play a quiet mediating role since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including support for prisoner exchanges through diplomatic channels.
Zelensky wrote on social media platform X that attacks continued during his call with the pope. “Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia’s response to our proposal for an Easter ceasefire,” he wrote.
The Vatican said both leaders expressed hope that international cooperation could help end hostilities. It added that they discussed expectations that “with the commitment and cooperation of the international community, hostilities may cease as soon as possible and a just and lasting peace may be achieved”.
Earlier in February, Leo described peace in Ukraine as “an urgent necessity.” He also recently urged global leaders to return to negotiations over the Middle East conflict.
