Pope Leo XIV calls Vladimir Putin regarding humanitarian crisis in Oleshky

On Friday, October 16, 2026, Pope Leo XIV held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where the Pontiff is currently recovering from lung surgery. The primary focus of the discussion was the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, located in the Kherson region on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River.

During the call, the Pope formally requested a humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate the safe delivery of food and medical supplies to the affected civilian population. Furthermore, he emphasized the necessity of allowing the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians from the conflict zone. The Vatican press office reported that the Pope reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to fostering dialogue and peace, marking this as the second communication between the two leaders since the election of the North American Pope.

The initiative comes as international concern mounts over the living conditions in occupied territories along the front lines. While the Vatican remains ready to mediate, there have been no immediate announcements from the Kremlin regarding a formal agreement to the requested ceasefire, and the situation in the region remains ongoing.