Pope Francis says he is considering trip to Ukraine's Kyiv

Pope Francis said on Saturday that he was considering a trip to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

Pope Francis said on Saturday that he was considering a trip to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

Asked by a reporter on the plane taking him from Rome to Malta if he was considering an invitation made by Ukrainian political and religious authorities, Francis answered: "Yes, it is on the table". He gave no further details.

Francis has been invited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Ukraine`s Byzantine-rite Catholic Church and Ukraine`s ambassador to the Vatican, Andriy Yurash.

He has spoken on the phone with Zelenskiy and Shevchuk.

Since the invasion, which Russia calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise Ukraine, the pope has strongly condemned what he has called an "unjustified aggression" and denounced "atrocities."