Pope Leo XIV telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin from his hospital bed on Friday, pressing for a ceasefire in the Russian-held Ukrainian city of Oleshky so food and medical aid can reach civilians trapped there. The Pope Leo Putin Oleshky ceasefire appeal is the pontiff’s first major diplomatic intervention since undergoing lung cancer surgery this week.
The Vatican said the pope told Putin he was deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, in the Kherson region. He asked for a pause in fighting to allow deliveries of food and medicine, and for civilians to be evacuated voluntarily and in safety.
Pope Leo Putin Oleshky ceasefire: the Vatican’s account
The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told reporters after the call that the initiative had come from the pope himself. He said the pontiff wanted to make the case for what he described as a besieged city.
It was the second known conversation between Leo and Putin. The two had previously spoken by phone in June 2025. The Vatican added that the pope restated the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and to any initiative that could bring peace.
Kremlin agrees to cooperate on aid, not on a ceasefire
Moscow’s response stopped short of the ceasefire the pope had asked for. The Kremlin said Putin had agreed to cooperate with the Vatican’s effort, stating that its intention to protect the town’s population and organise vital supplies “has been supported” and that the two sides had agreed to work together on the matter. The statement made no mention of a ceasefire.
The Kremlin blamed Kyiv for the crisis in Oleshky, saying a detailed explanation of what it called the Kyiv regime’s responsibility had been given to the pope. It added that Putin had wished the pontiff a speedy recovery and stressed the importance of Russian-Vatican cooperation in promoting shared spiritual and moral values.
Russia has acknowledged serious problems with food and medical supplies in the town and said its military was working to resolve them, while accusing Ukraine of blocking deliveries. Ukraine says it is Russia that is thwarting food supplies, Reuters reported.
Oleshky: a city caught in the crossfire
Oleshky sits on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river in the Kherson region, on the front line of the war. Russian forces seized the town in February 2022.
Before the war it had about 24,000 residents. Roughly 1,700 to 2,000 people remain, including 47 children, according to Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. They face severe shortages of food and medicine, caught between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, called the situation in the city “desperate” and urged Russia to allow civilians to leave. Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said Kyiv had prepared an evacuation mission with the International Committee of the Red Cross ready to take part and Ukrainian forces prepared to observe a ceasefire, but that Moscow had not confirmed it would proceed.
The blame over blocked supplies mirrors the wider war, where Kyiv recently accused Washington of helping Moscow as missiles struck the Ukrainian capital.
Working from a hospital room
The appeal shows the pope back at work days after major surgery. Feature Pakistan has tracked his treatment from his admission to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for the lung operation, through the removal of a cancerous tumour from his right lung, to his steady recovery, out of bed and eating normally.
Earlier on Friday, the pontiff celebrated Mass on the tenth floor of the Gemelli, in the first images released of him since the procedure. They showed the 71-year-old, Chicago-born pope in a green vestment before a makeshift altar, his private secretary, the Peruvian priest Edgard Rimaycuna, at his side. The Vatican said he was showing steady improvement and was able to work and carry out normal daily activities.
Original reporting: Dawn. Additional reporting: Reuters.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the pope telephone Putin?
He wanted a ceasefire in the Russian-held city of Oleshky so humanitarian aid could get in and civilians could leave safely, according to the Vatican.
What did the Kremlin say in response?
Moscow said Putin agreed to cooperate on getting supplies to Oleshky and wished the pope a speedy recovery. Its statement did not mention a ceasefire.
How many people are still living in Oleshky?
About 1,700 to 2,000 residents remain from a pre-war population of around 24,000, including 47 children, according to UN human rights monitors.
