Pope Francis and Trump increasingly aligned on peace for Ukraine

Pope Francis made a real-world effort toward working for peace in Ukraine over the weekend. The gesture came as the 2025 Jubilee of Hope entered its second month, while at the same time the new administration of President Donald Trump is getting into gear. The new president has promised to bring an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

The Pope marked the beginning of February by conducting a surprise video conference with young Ukrainians, and responding to the questions of young people from different countries. At the beginning of the meeting, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said “this is probably the first time that Ukrainian youth have had the opportunity to communicate in this way with the Holy Father”.

The Pope used the time to urge the need for work toward peace between Russia and Ukraine.

“War always destroys,” Francis said. “The remedy is dialogue: always, among ourselves, even with those who oppose us. Please, never grow tired of dialogue. Peace is built through dialogue. It is true that sometimes dialogue is impossible due to the stubbornness of some, but we must always make the effort.”

The Pope continued: “Life today is devalued. Money and war positions are given more importance than human life itself.”

Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and then invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has been making slow advances in Ukraine, but is suffering huge casualties, as are the Ukrainians.

Last week, in reference to the seemingly intractable conflict that is entering its third year, Donald Trump told reporters: “We will be speaking, and I think will perhaps do something that’ll be significant. We want to end that war.”

The video conference by the Pope highlighted his longstanding call for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, one which has seen Ukrainian Catholics sometimes object to his efforts at compromise between the warring sides.

In March 2024, the Pope was rebuked for saying he believes “the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates”.

He added: “The word negotiate is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”

RELATED: Critics who paint the Pope as a ‘meek’ peacenik over Ukraine fail to see how victory can lie in unexpected places

During the online conference at the weekend, Francis held up a New Testament and a Book of Psalms that belonged to Oleksandr, a young Ukrainian soldier who died in Avdiivka.

“For me, this is a relic from you, Ukrainians, from this young man who gave his life for his homeland,” the Pope said. “Oleksandr is one of you.”

“For me, this is a relic of a young man who gave his life for peace. I keep it on my desk and pray with it daily. We must remember our heroes who defended their homeland. The Ukrainian people are suffering. Let us open our eyes and see what war does!” Francis said.

He also told young Ukrainians living outside of their country to be “patriots”.

“Every young person has a mission. In difficult times, young people must carry forward ‘the spirit of the homeland.’ Your homeland is wounded by war, but love it. Loving one’s homeland is a beautiful thing,” Francis said, adding: “A young person who cannot dream has grown old.”

In a special plea, he asked them not to forget their grandparents, describing elder relatives as “the guardians of memory”.

Following the Pope’s video conference, on the morning of 2 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted Russia’s continued attacks on his country.

“Every day, Russia attacks Ukraine with drones, missiles, and aerial bombs. This week alone, there have been hundreds of strikes on our cities and communities – nearly 50 missiles, around 660 attack drones, and more than 760 guided aerial bombs launched by the enemy against our people,” he wrote on social media platform X.

“Russia will not stop on its own. The world must force it to end this brutal and unprovoked aggression. Strengthening our defence is absolutely necessary. We need better protection – air defence systems, long-range weapons, and sanctions pressure,” the Ukrainian president emphasised.

“All of this helps save lives here in Ukraine. I thank everyone around the world who understands the importance of this, continues to believe in our country and supports us.”

However, the Pope struck a different tone, and told the Ukrainian young people that while he understands how ending the conflict is not an easy thing to do or to accept after all that has happened, he urged them to support peace.

“Forgiveness is one of the hardest things. It is difficult for everyone, even for me,” the Pope said.

“But I am helped by this thought: I must forgive as I have been forgiven. Each of us must recall how we have been forgiven. The art of forgiveness is not easy, but we must keep moving forward and always forgive,” he added.

The Pope concluded with a message of perseverance: “We have all made mistakes, but when one falls, they must get back up and keep moving forward. Do not be afraid! Take risks, and if you fall, do not stay down.”

The Jubilee year faces an enormous challenge in seeing its goals attained in Ukraine. But the new US president may prove a crucial, if not decisive, factor in helping the Jubilee’s hopes come to fruition.

RELATED: The next moves in chess game between Trump and Pope Francis

Photo: Pope Francis engages in dialogue with young Ukrainians on 1 February 2025. (Credit: Vatican Media, via Crux.)

The post Pope Francis and Trump increasingly aligned on peace for Ukraine first appeared on Catholic Herald.

The post Pope Francis and Trump increasingly aligned on peace for Ukraine appeared first on Catholic Herald.