Brazil's Lula, Pope Francis discuss Ukraine war in phone call

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (not pictured) before a summit with presidents of South America to discuss the re-launching of the regional cooperation bloc UNASUR, in Brasilia, Brazil, May 29, 2023. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday had a phone call with Pope Francis to discuss topics such as the war in Ukraine and environmental protection, the Brazilian government said in a statement.

Lula thanked the pope for his peace efforts but lamented that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia had escalated.