Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone on Friday, October 16, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Holy See Press Office reported. The pope called for a ceasefire to allow aid to be delivered to residents of the city of Oleshky in the Kherson region.
According to a Vatican statement, cited by Vatican News, the pope expressed „deep concern about the serious humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky in the Kherson region” during the call. He called for a ceasefire that would allow the delivery of food and medical aid and enable the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians.
The statement concludes that Leo XIV confirmed the Holy See’s readiness to support dialogue and peace. The Vatican did not say who initiated the call, how long it lasted, or whether Putin responded to the appeal.
Call during recovery
The call took place several days after the pope’s surgery. On Sunday, October 11, Leo XIV announced that doctors had detected a change in his lung. On Tuesday, the Press Office said that the procedure at the Gemelli Polyclinic had been completed successfully. The pope remains in the HOSPITAL.
Oleshky
Oleshky lies in the Kherson region, on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Ukraine.
What it means
The pope’s call to Putin is another sign of the Vatican’s efforts to play a mediating role in the war in Ukraine. For now, there is no information on specific agreements, a humanitarian corridor, or a date for a ceasefire.
