Pope Francis has weighed in on the recent Zelensky and Trump clash in a heartfelt statement he shared on X from his hospital room in Rome.
The pontiff, 88, wrote: ‘I pray for you, too. I pray above all for peace. Let us pray for martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Kivu’.
In his Sunday Angelus, the Pope also urged the world to ‘judge our neighbour with charity’, adding: ‘From here, war appears even more absurd’.
He wrote: ‘Jesus asks us to train our eyes to observe the world well and to judge our neighbour with charity. Only with this caring gaze that does not condemn can fraternal correction become a virtue’.
The posts comes just days after US President Donald Trump abruptly halted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and kicked President Volodymyr Zelensky out of the White House after a blistering Oval Office shouting match between the two leaders.
Friday proved an extraordinary day at the White House, which saw Zelensky walk out of the West Wing and slip into his SUV following an explosive encounter with the president.
He was driven away under a flood of camera lights and left dozens of unanswered questions.
Trump threatened to abandon Ukraine completely if Zelensky did not agree to his peace terms. He also accused Zelensky of not being grateful.
Zelensky held his own, even showing Trump photos he brought of the devastation to his country, and arguing he had thanked the American people.
The yelling match was unlike anything ever seen publicly in the Oval Office. And it played out on TV screens across the world.
‘You’re gambling with World War III,’ Trump bellowed Zelensky at one point.
After the contentious meeting Trump announced he had asked Zelensky to leave.
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: ‘It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved.
‘Because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.’
The shocking development comes after French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House this week in an attempt to gain some sympathy for Ukraine from Trump.
It’s not immediately clear how the dramatic fallout will affect peace talks.
The Pope’s urge for peace follows him being put on a ventilator after suffering an ‘isolated’ breathing crisis on Friday evening.
He did not suffer any new respiratory attacks on Saturday and remained in a stable condition, the Vatican announced in its evening update.
‘The Holy Father’s clinical condition remains stable,’ a statement read.
People shelter from the rain as they pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, where the Pontiff has been hospitalised since February 14, in Rome, March 1, 2025
Francis had suffered a coughing fit late on Friday in which he had inhaled vomit before doctors put him on a non-invasive mechanical ventilation
Christ the Redeemer shows a picture of Pope Francis projected on the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 27, 2025
‘He is alternating between non-invasive mechanical ventilation and long periods of supplemental high-flow oxygenation, maintaining a good response to gas exchange.
‘The Holy Father does not have a fever and shows no leukocytosis [high white blood cell count].
‘His haemodynamic parameters have always remained stable; he has continued eat on his own and has regularly undergone respiratory physiotherapy, in which he cooperates actively. He has not experienced any further episodes of bronchospasm.
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‘The Holy Father remains alert and oriented. He received the Eucharist on Saturday afternoon, then devoted himself to prayer.
‘The prognosis remains guarded.’
Saturday evening’s update came just hours after the Vatican announced that Francis had coffee for breakfast and read the morning newspapers in a promising statement.
The Pontiff had been put on non-invasive mechanical ventilation on Friday by doctors at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after suffering a coughing fit in which he inhaled vomit.
The incident resulted in the ‘sudden worsening of the respiratory picture.’
Doctors aspirated the vomit and placed Francis on non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
The Pope remained conscious and alert at all times and co-operated with the manoeuvres to help him recover. He responded well, with a good level of oxygen exchange and was continuing to wear a mask to receive supplemental oxygen, the Vatican said.
