Pope Leo XIV has urged Putin to allow aid deliveries and safe civilian evacuations from Oleshky.
Pope Leo XIV has asked Vladimir Putin to allow food deliveries, medical assistance and safe civilian departures from the besieged Ukrainian city.
Pope Leo XIV has appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for an Oleshky ceasefire to help trapped civilians. The request seeks access for humanitarian aid and safe, voluntary evacuations from the besieged Ukrainian city.
The Holy See Press Office announced the telephone conversation on Friday, October 17. It said the Pope expressed deep concern about humanitarian conditions in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Kherson region.
During the call, Leo urged a pause in fighting so food and medical assistance could reach residents. He also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and peace.
Oleshky ceasefire appeal seeks safe routes for civilians
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said about 2,000 civilians in Oleshky need humanitarian routes to leave. He explained that the Pope personally initiated the appeal on behalf of the city’s residents.
Parolin spoke on the sidelines of a conference at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. He said the request combined urgent food deliveries with safe departures for civilians who wished to leave.
Oleshky lies along the Dnieper River, close to the frontline in the Russian-occupied part of Kherson. The Pope’s request therefore focused on practical assistance for people facing growing humanitarian needs.
However, the Vatican statement did not indicate whether Putin had accepted the proposed ceasefire. It also gave no confirmation that Russia had agreed to humanitarian evacuation routes.
Parolin hopes Putin will accept the request
Parolin expressed hope that the Russian president would respond positively and carry out the Pope’s request. He suggested Putin’s willingness to take the call could offer grounds for optimism.
That assessment remained an expression of hope, rather than confirmation of an agreement. The Vatican’s account outlined the appeal but did not report a commitment from Putin.
The conversation was the second known telephone exchange between Pope Leo and the Russian leader. Their earlier call took place on June 4, 2025.
Pope continues diplomacy during hospital recovery
Meanwhile, Leo remains at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after undergoing surgery earlier in the week. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung, and doctors have reported steady improvement in his recovery.
Despite his hospitalisation, the Pope took the initiative to raise the plight of Oleshky’s civilians, Parolin said. The appeal continued the Vatican’s emphasis on dialogue and humanitarian protection during the war in Ukraine.
