On the anniversary of Ukraine's independence, Pope Leo XIV wrote to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In his message, the Pope extends his heartfelt sympathies to the Ukrainian people, who have been afflicted by the conflict's agony, and asks the Lord to console those who have lost loved ones and heal the wounded. The Pope prays that "the clamor of arms be silenced" and that room be made for dialogue, which is a necessary condition for establishing peace. In his final letter, he entrusts the nation to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, praying that hope triumphs over violence.