Pope Francis, Macron talk Ukraine at the Vatican

Pope Francis met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Vatican Monday for talks in which the two men discussed the war in Ukraine.

Francis, 85, was using a walking stick due to a painful knee, but looked cheerful as he chatted with Macron and posed for photographs with the French leader and his wife Brigitte.

The pair discussed “the conflict in Ukraine, with special attention to the humanitarian situation”, the Vatican said in a statement.

“Particular consideration was given to the region of the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Africa,” it said.

Macron was escorted through ornate papal palace corridors by Swiss Guards, on his third visit to the Vatican since becoming president.

He gave Francis a 1796 first edition French-language copy of German philosopher Immanuel Kant’s “Perpetual Peace”.

Macron was in Rome for an interfaith summit on peace organised by the Catholic Sant’Egidio association.

He previously met Francis at the Vatican in June 2018 and less than a year ago, in November 2021.

During his trip to Rome, the French president held an informal meeting on Sunday evening with new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.