Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, United States Vice President JD Vance and Brazilian vice Geraldo Alckmin are on the Vatican’s confirmed list for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass on Sunday (18).
The ceremony in St. Peter’s Square is a milestone at the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate as the leader of the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics of the world.
The American delegation will be led by US Vice President Jd Vance, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ceremony can also be the scene of war negotiations in Ukraine, since on Pope Francis’ funeral, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky spoke briefly at the Vatican.
Rubio discussed on Saturday (17) efforts to end the war with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who served as Pope Francis’ envoy to the Russian-Ukraine conflict.
In comments to reporters before the meeting, the main US diplomat suggested that the Vatican could be a place to facilitate dialogue. “I wouldn’t call it correct, but it is certainly a place where both sides would feel comfortable going,” Rubio told reporters.
Russia will be represented by the Minister of Culture, Olga Lyubimova, said the Vatican.
In addition to Zelensky, other heads of states will be present at the ceremony such as: Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, German Premier Friedrich Merz and Peruvian president Dina Boluarte.
Brazil will be represented by the vice president, Geraldo Alckmin. President Lula was present weeks before at Pope Francis’ funeral.
The president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, will be in the Vatican, the same day as the country lives general elections to define the new configuration of Parliament and consequently the new Prime Minister.
See the list of main names:
- President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky;
- US Vice President Jd Vance;
- Vice President of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin;
- Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni;
- Peruvian President Dina Boluarte;
- Germany Prime Minister Friedrich Merz;
- President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro;
- President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa;
- President of Israel, Isaac Herzog;
- President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Layen;
- King of Spain, Felipe VI;
- President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza;
THE CNN Brazil will transmit the Mass At the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV this Sunday (18), from 5am (BrasÃlia time).
This content was originally published in Zelensky, Vance and Alckmin: See who will participate in Pope’s inaugural Mass on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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