Ukraine President Zelensky greeted by Pope Francis after flying to the Vatican

UKRAINE’S President Volodymyr Zelensky has a heartfelt greeting with Pope Francis after flying to the Vatican.

He bowed and said: “It is a great ­honour,” as the 86-year-old pontiff met him standing with a cane yesterday.

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During their 40-minute chat Mr Zelensky gave him a soldier’s bulletproof vest painted with an image of the Madonna.

Francis said last month that the Holy See was involved in a peace mission to end the war with Russia.

Earlier Mr Zelensky met Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who promised military and financial aid for Ukraine.

The president was in Rome for the first time since the war began but has had several phone calls with the Pope.

Francis has pleaded for peace practically on a weekly basis, and has repeatedly expressed a wish to act as a broker between Kyiv and Moscow.

His offer has so far failed to produce any breakthrough.

The pope has a standing invitation from Zelensky to visit Kyiv but has said previously that he also wants to visit Moscow as part of the same peace mission.

Zelenskiy and his team have been vigorously promoting Kyiv’s 10-point peace plan and urging world leaders to hold a Global Peace Summit based on the proposals.