Vladimir Putin

The Latest

Archbishop Borys Gudziak.

U.S.-Russia summit ignored key moral questions in Ukraine war, archbishop says

Aug 18, 2025

By Tessa Gervasini

At the United States-Russia summit, leaders failed to face “the fundamental moral and geopolitical questions” regarding the war in Ukraine,... Read more

Before the Angelus on July 13, 2025, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a Mass for local Catholics, religious leaders, and civil authorities at the 17th-century Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo’s main square.

Pope Leo calls for peaceful resolutions to Gaza and Ukraine wars ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

Aug 14, 2025

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Leo XIV called for a peaceful resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine ahead of the upcoming summit... Read more

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin (center) speaks to journalists at the Sirius Educational Center in Sochi on May 19, 2025, after a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump says Vatican might host imminent Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks

May 19, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

Trump said that following a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia and Ukraine will begin ceasefire negotiations that the... Read more

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 24, 2024.

Pope Francis to Vladimir Putin: A negotiated peace is better than an endless war

Apr 25, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

CBS News broadcast some excerpts April 24 from a new interview conducted by journalist Norah O’Donnell with Pope Francis at... Read more

Photographs and flowers are left outside the Russian Embassy in London on Feb. 16, 2024, following the news of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Russian opposition leader, outspoken Christian Alexei Navalny reportedly dead in prison

Feb 16, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Navalny, 47, had been serving a 19-year sentence for alleged extremism and years of criticism of the authoritarian President Vladimir... Read more

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna, during a consistory Oct. 5, 2019.

Cardinal Zuppi to go to Moscow this week as Pope Francis’ peace envoy

Jun 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Zuppi will arrive in Russia’s capital less than one week after a paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group rebelled... Read more

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky receives from U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (L) a US national flag during his address to the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 21, 2022.

With Zelenskyy in the U.S., faith leaders sign petition calling for a ‘Christmas truce’

Dec 21, 2022

By Katie Yoder

One thousand faith leaders have signed a petition that asks the Biden administration to push for a “negotiated settlement” to... Read more

Vladimir Putin / Credit: Flickr from Global Panorama (CC BY-SA 2.0)  Pope Francis / Daniel Ibañez, ACI Press

Russia is ‘willing’ to speak with Pope Francis about the war in Ukraine

Oct 26, 2022

By CNA Staff

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov said his government is willing to talk with Pope Francis, the U.S., and France to... Read more

Pope Francis dedicated nearly all of his Angelus address on Oct. 1 to the war in Ukraine.

Pope Francis appeals to Putin for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine

Oct 2, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 2, the pope dedicated nearly all of his Angelus address... Read more

Pope Francis and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pope Francis says he wants to meet Putin in Moscow to discuss Ukraine war

May 3, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

‘We have not yet had a response,’ the pope said. Read more

The aftermath of the Russian occupation of Bucha, Ukraine.

European church leaders ask Putin and Zelenskyy for Easter ceasefire

Apr 13, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘We respectfully request you to declare a ceasefire in Ukraine from midnight on April 17,’ they wrote. Read more

Pope Francis speaks during an in-flight press conference from Malta, April 3, 2022.

Will Pope Francis go to Kyiv? Will he call out Putin by name? Here’s what he told the media

Apr 3, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope was speaking at an in-flight press conference. Read more

Pope Francis is calling for prayers for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine.

Catholics in Europe react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Feb 24, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Catholics across Europe have reacted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with expressions of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and prayers... Read more

Volodymyr Zelensky visits the Ternopil region of Ukraine on Sept. 18, 2020.

Ukraine’s president: Vatican would be the ideal place for meeting with Putin

Apr 30, 2021

By Courtney Mares

“The Holy See is a moral authority on a global level which has always effectively played the role of mediator,”... Read more

Pope Francis greets Russian President Vladimir July 4, 2019.

Putin visits Pope Francis on July 4th

Jul 4, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Pope Francis at the Vatican July 4 for a 55-minute private discussion about international... Read more

Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, prefect of the papal household, greets Russian president Vladimir Putin upon his arrival at the Vatican, June 10, 2015.

Ukraine crisis the focal point in Pope's discussion with Putin

Jun 10, 2015

By Elise Harris

In the second meeting between Pope Francis and Russian president Vladimir Putin, held on Wednesday at the Vatican, the discussion... Read more