August 24 is Ukraine's independence day, marking the day the Declaration of Independence was declared in 1991. For the occasion, a number of world leaders and councils sent congratulations, including Pope Leo XIV.
Among those who sent letters were Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Charles III, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Pope's letter noted his prayer that God would "move the hearts of people of good will, that the clamor of arms may fall silent ..."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted this letter and many others to his X account. He prefaced the Pope's note with his words of thanks:
Zelensky also posted the letter sent by US President Donald Trump:
On July 9, the Pope received Ukrainian President Zelensky at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo (photo above).
