From November 19 to 21, Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, carried out a working visit to the Vatican, holding a series of meetings with senior officials of the Holy See and major humanitarian institutions. Her discussions included talks with:
– Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Prefect of the Dicastery for Charity;
– John Coughlin, head of the Ukraine support unit at Caritas Internationalis;
– Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Pope’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and President of the Italian Bishops' Conference;
– Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.

Iryna Vereshchuk also took part in a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, joined by a group of Ukrainian children repatriated through President Zelensky’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, as well as by Ukrainian civilian women recently freed from Russian captivity.

During the meetings, officials discussed the return of Ukrainian children and civilians unlawfully held in Russia, the broader humanitarian situation in Ukraine, ongoing support for frontline regions, and the potential role of the Holy See as a neutral platform for humanitarian negotiations. Particular attention was given to the immediate medical and social needs of civilians — especially children requiring treatment — and to the importance of ensuring that humanitarian assistance remains independent of political pressures.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued humanitarian cooperation, coordinated efforts to secure the return of deported Ukrainian children and civilians, and deeper engagement with humanitarian organizations, including Caritas Internationalis.

As part of her visit, on November 20, Vereshchuk attended a Mass at the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle, held in memory of the victims of the 1932–1933 Holodomor genocide and dedicated to prayers for the release of Ukrainian military and civilian detainees and for the establishment of a just and lasting peace. The liturgy was presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.