Zelenskyy and his wife arrive at the enthronement of the Pope

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife at the Vatican on 18 May 2025. Photo: BFMTV

On Sunday, 18 May, the Vatican will host the enthronement of Pope Leo XIV, to which President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife arrived.

This is reported by «Suspilne».

At the entrance to St Peter's Square in the Vatican, the faithful are being inspected and checked by the police.

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«A total of 5,000 law enforcement officers are monitoring security today, the same number as during the funeral of Pope Francis,» the prefect of Rome said the day before.

Snipers and divers are also involved in law enforcement, as well as the Air Force and anti-drone systems.

In total, the Vatican expects 250,000 people to gather in St Peter's Square for the newly elected pontiff's enthronement mass.

The enthronement of Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. Photo: Radio Liberty

The enthronement of Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. Photo: Radio Liberty

Today he will be officially inaugurated during a mass. The pontiff drove through St Peter's Square for the first time in a specially equipped car that popes use to appear in public.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the Vatican together with the first lady and the Ukrainian delegation.

Earlier, Pope Leo XIV expressed his readiness to mediate peace talks between countries at war.