Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has accepted credentials from a number of newly-appointed foreign ambassadors, i.e. Latvian Ambassador Juris Poikans, Pakistani Ambassador Athar Abbas, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, and Bangladeshi Ambassador Mahfuzur Rahman.

"Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti pointed out that the Holy See's attention is focused on Ukraine and that our country is a priority for the Pope," the presidential press service said in a statement on Tuesday.

President Poroshenko and Archbishop Gugerotti "also discussed preparations for Pope Francis' visit to Ukraine," it said.

In talking with the new apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, the president thanked him for the Holy See's active assistance in consolidating the international community's efforts toward restoring peace and stability in Ukraine. He also thanked the Vatican's representative for humanitarian aid provided in 2014-2015 for internally displaced persons who suffered from hostilities in eastern Ukraine.