On May 4, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Volodymyr Khandogiy, who is visiting Italy, met President of the Pontifical Council for Culture Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi.

The interlocutors discussed the current state and prospects of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and the Holy See and confirmed mutual desire to strengthen common efforts in that realm.

Among good examples of such cooperation there was mentioned the great success of the exhibition entitled "The Golden Epoch of the Ukrainian Icon-Painting: XVI–XVIII centuries" which is now open in the Italian city of Ancona. Volodymyr Khandogiy invited Gianfranco Ravasi to attend the ceremony of closing the exhibition which will take place on May 9.

One of the issues tackled was the future visit of Gianfranco Ravasi to Ukraine.

Ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See Tetiana Izhevska participated in the meeting.