During a meeting on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented a unique icon to Pope Leo XIV, crafted from a fragment of a crate used for heavy artillery brought from the area around Izyum.

Source: Zelensky on Telegram

Direct quote: "Today we handed over to Pope Leo XIV a special icon – "Mother of God with Child", created from a piece of a crate that came from heavy artillery, brought from near Izyum. This icon speaks about our children, those who have suffered from the war, many of whom were forcibly taken and deported by Russia, and who are eagerly awaiting to return home to Ukraine.

We pray for the lives of all our deported children and hope for the Vatican's support in this matter, so that everyone – both the children and Ukrainian prisoners of war – can return home".

Background: President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska met with Pope Leo XIV after the conclusion of his inaugural mass at the Vatican.