Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets with Pope Leo XIV. Both propose the Vatican as site for peace talks

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday and thanked him for the Vatican’s efforts to help return children taken by Russia. Both he and Leo suggested the Vatican could host peace talks to end the war.

Zelenskyy called on Leo at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, in the Alban hills south of Rome. Zelenskyy is in Rome to attend the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference, which is taking place Thursday and Friday.

The Vatican said Leo and Zelenskyy discussed the conflict “and the urgent need for a just and lasting peace.”

“The Holy Father expressed his sorrow for the victims and renewed his prayers and closeness to the Ukrainian people, encouraging every effort aimed at the release of prisoners and the search for shared solutions,” a Vatican statement said. “The Holy Father reiterated the willingness to welcome representatives of Russia and Ukraine to the Vatican for negotiations."

The United States had indicated the Vatican could host possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, but Moscow hasn’t accepted it.

Speaking to reporters as he left the pope’s villa, Zelenskyy said he thanked the American pope for the Vatican’s efforts to help reunite children taken by Russia after Moscow's 2022 invasion.

He asked for continued help and prayers “to get back our children stolen by Russia during this war.”

Pope Francis had named an envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to try to facilitate the return of children and find “paths to peace” between the two sides. After an initial burst of shuttle diplomacy and visits to Kyiv, Moscow, Washington and Beijing, Zuppi’s efforts appear to have slowed, at least in the public sphere.

The Russian government has faced international condemnation over unlawful deportations of Ukrainian families, including children, to Russia following Putin’s order for Russian troops to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. U.N.-backed experts have estimated that about 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported or transferred from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia, though it was difficult to determine exact numbers.

The Vatican has not disclosed details about its efforts on helping the return of the Ukrainian children or how many children have been returned.

Leo has been a strong supporter of Ukraine and denounced the “senseless war,” meeting recently with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops and pilgrims. He was so taken by their hauntingly beautiful Ukrainian version of the “Our Father” hymn that he asked for an encore when he met with them a second time.

“It is not easy to find words of consolation for the families who have lost loved ones in this senseless war,” he told the bishops who visited last week. “I imagine it is also for you, who are in daily contact with people wounded in heart and flesh.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, walks with Father Lorenzo Sapienza past Swiss guards ahead of his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, walks with Father Lorenzo Sapienza past Swiss guards ahead of his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Pope Leo XIV wave to journalists during their meeting in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, walks with Father Lorenzo Sapienza past Swiss guards ahead of his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Pope Leo XIV wave to journalists during their meeting in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)