Pope Leo XIV Urges Oleshky Humanitarian Truce in Call With Putin

Speaking from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital while recovering from lung cancer surgery, the pontiff pressed for humanitarian access to the embattled Kherson region and reiterated the Vatican’s commitment to dialogue and peace

Pope Leo XIV used a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to appeal for an immediate humanitarian pause in the city of Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, asking that relief supplies be allowed in and civilians be given a safe opportunity to leave the area.

The Vatican said the pontiff, speaking while recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital following surgery for lung adenocarcinoma, voiced “deep concern” over the humanitarian conditions in Oleshky. According to the Holy See, he called for a truce that would permit the delivery of food and medical assistance and enable the voluntary and secure evacuation of civilians caught in the crisis.

The conversation also served as another step in the Vatican’s ongoing diplomatic engagement concerning the conflict. Leo XIV reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and pursuing peace, the Vatican said.

The exchange was not the first direct contact between the two leaders. Pope Leo XIV and Putin previously spoke by phone on June 4, 2025. Friday’s call came after separate Vatican missions to Moscow led by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states, in August, and by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi at the end of September.

The Kremlin said Putin offered the pope his sincere wishes for good health and a speedy recovery following the recent surgical procedure.

During the discussion, Putin also provided what the Kremlin described as a “comprehensive explanation” of what Moscow views as Kyiv’s responsibility for the humanitarian situation in Oleshky. The Russian president further expressed support for the Vatican’s stated intention to help create conditions that would enhance civilian safety in the city and facilitate the delivery of essential supplies.

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