Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met for the third time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, focusing their discussion on the repatriation of Ukrainian nationals held in Russian captivity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met privately with Pope Francis on Friday where the two exchanged gifts in what appeared to be an easing of recent tensions between the two.

Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the San Damaso courtyard ahead of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, October 11, 2024. REUTERS/Remo Casilli VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the Vatican on Friday morning for their second face-to-face encounter in four months.