Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Pope Francis on Friday and sought his help in securing the return of adults and children taken prisoner by Russia. Ukraine has previously asked for help from the Vatican to return children forcibly taken to Russia.

Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the San Damaso courtyard ahead of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, October 11, 2024. REUTERS/Remo Casilli VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the Vatican on Friday morning for their second face-to-face encounter in four months.

Pope Francis received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a private meeting at the Vatican on Friday, though there were no initial details about the content of the talks. However, the Holy See said the meeting lasted half an hour and that Zelensky presented the head of the Catholic Church with a painting entitled "The Bucha Massacre,

The Ukrainian president said his plan "aims to create the right conditions for a just end to the war" against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, as part of a European tour aimed at securing more Western support before the presidential election in the United States.

Zelensky held talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others.