Zelensky attends the Mass after the pope offered the Vatican as a venue for peace talks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine attended Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass on Sunday, an appearance that came after Leo expressed a personal desire to help end the war with Russia.

The newly elected pope, who said on Friday that he would “make every effort so that this peace may prevail — and offered to host talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican.

“The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another,” Leo added. The pope’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the offer was “the availability of a space” and called the Vatican an “appropriate place” for peace talks.