Lukashenko presented a gift from a pro-Russian monastery to the Pope.

The head of the lower house of the Belarusian parliament, Igor Sergeyenko, met with Pope Leo XIV during his enthronement in the Vatican and presented him with a gift from the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Sergeyenco invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Belarus and handed him a gift from Lukashenko - the icon of the Mother of God 'Zhirovichskaya'. The icon was made by the masters of the Minsk Holy Elizabeth Monastery.

«Igor Sergeyenko conveyed greetings from the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to Pope Leo XIV, as well as a gift from the Head of the Belarusian state - the icon of the Mother of God 'Zhirovichskaya'», - said the message from the House of Representatives.

It is known that the Holy Elizabeth Monastery supports Russian military aggression and provides assistance to the Russian army.

Charity concert in Minsk

In May 2023, the monastery organized a concert in support of «hospitals and wounded soldiers of the Russian army participating in the special operation». The collected funds were used for «the purchase of medical equipment and medicines for hospitals in Donbas». The concert, under the popular hashtag «We don’t abandon our own», depicted the symbol of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On Christmas, January 7, 2023, Lukashenko supported the fundraising for Russian soldiers: «You are doing it right. Do not pay attention to a dozen or so paid individuals. We help our Russian brothers».

The representatives of the Minsk monastery were expelled from the church in Rome due to the lack of «peacefulness». This served as a basis for criticism directed at Sergeyenco during his meeting with the Pope.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, also exchanged gifts with Pope Leo XIV, presenting him with an icon of the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus Christ, painted on wood.

Officially, the new Pope was Robert Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV. He received the pallium and the fisherman’s ring.

Analyzing the information provided, it can be noted that gifts and performances by state officials reflect complex relations between states in light of geopolitical events. The actions of the representatives of the monastery have also sparked disputes and discussions in both Ukrainian and Belarusian societies. It is important to understand the context of the events and their consequences for international relations.