World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Pope Leo asks Putin for ceasefire to aid civilians in Oleshky
Pope Leo spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday from hospital.
The pope, recovering after an operation to remove a tumour from his right lung, called for a ceasefire in Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region.
He said a pause in fighting was needed to deliver food and medical supplies and allow civilians to leave safely if they chose.
Residents face shortages of food and medicine as Russian and Ukrainian forces confront each other around the city.
Oleshky is occupied by Russian forces and besieged by Ukrainian forces; the two sides blame each other for the residents’ plight.
The call was the pope’s second conversation with Putin, after an earlier call last year, and came amid Vatican efforts to secure humanitarian steps in the war.
The Vatican is seeking aid access and safe evacuation, but no agreement or ceasefire was announced.
Pope Leo spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday and called for a ceasefire in Oleshky, a city in Ukraine’s Kherson region.
The Vatican said the pause would allow food and medical assistance to reach residents and enable the voluntary, safe evacuation of civilians.
Oleshky is occupied by Russian forces and faces shortages of food and medicine amid fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
The call came as the pope was recovering in hospital after an operation to remove a tumour from his right lung.
- Who
- Pope Leo and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- What
- Leo called for a ceasefire in Oleshky to allow humanitarian aid and the safe, voluntary evacuation of civilians.
- When
- Friday, 16 October 2026.
- Where
- By phone; Oleshky is in Ukraine’s Kherson region.
- Why
- The Vatican said the city faced a grave humanitarian situation and residents needed food and medical assistance.
Russian position
Ukrainian position
Responsibility for residents’ plight
Russian position
Russia said Oleshky residents had been taken hostage by Kyiv.
Ukrainian position
Ukraine said Russian forces were responsible for holding residents hostage.
Putin and Pope Leo spoke by phone for the first time, according to Corriere della Sera.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi completed a three-day visit to Moscow and discussed Oleshky with Russia’s human rights commissioner.
Pope Leo underwent an operation to remove a tumour from his right lung.
Pope Leo spoke with Putin and called for a ceasefire to enable aid deliveries and civilian evacuations in Oleshky.
- Pope
- Leo XIV
- Russian president
- Vladimir Putin
- City
- Oleshky, Kherson region, Ukraine
- Call date
- 16 October 2026
- Requested pause
- Ceasefire to allow food and medical aid and voluntary, safe civilian evacuation
- Pope’s hospital treatment
- Operation to remove a tumour from his right lung
3 sources
Pope Leo XIV urges Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Ukraine, to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations
From hospital, Pope Leo pushes Putin for ceasefire in contested Ukraine city
Telefonata tra Putin e papa Leone. Il pontefice: «Serve una tregua per aiuti umanitari, grave la situazione a Oleshky»
What people are saying
expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance, and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population
taken hostage of Kiev
the Russians to do it