VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis held separate phone calls with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, urging peaceful resolutions to their nations’ respective conflicts, according to Vatican officials.
The conversations occurred against the backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza and continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. A Vatican spokesperson described the discussions as “pastoral exchanges” focused on humanitarian concerns rather than political mediation.
Analysts note this marks the pontiff’s first direct communication with Herzog since the October 7 Hamas attacks, while his regular dialogue with Zelenskyy has continued throughout Russia’s invasion. “The Pope maintains careful neutrality,” said Marco Politi, Vatican expert at La Repubblica. “His interventions emphasize civilian protection over geopolitical positions.”
Neither presidential office released detailed readouts, though Herzog’s staff confirmed the call addressed “shared values amid crisis.” The discussions come days before Francis’ scheduled meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss Middle East peace efforts.