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Pope Leo XIV Calls on Putin for Truce in Besieged Oleshky

The Vatican said the pope asked for a ceasefire to allow food and medical aid and safe evacuation from Oleshky, while Russian agencies reported Putin thanked him for his humanitarian initiatives.

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Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, urging a ceasefire in the besieged, Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in southern Ukraine while recovering in hospital from lung cancer surgery.

The Vatican said the pope expressed deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation and asked for a ceasefire to allow delivery of food and medical assistance, as well as voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians. Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the pope took the initiative and said around 2,000 civilians need safe routes out and humanitarian corridors.

Russian news agencies reported that Putin thanked the pope for his willingness to help resolve the Ukraine conflict and for his humanitarian initiatives, and wished him a speedy recovery after surgery. It was the second call between them, following a June 2025 conversation.

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Read the original reporting and primary evidence.

  1. Pope Leo XIV urges Putin to agree to truce in besieged Ukrainian city of OleshkyEuronews · Primary source
  2. Pope Leo appeals to Putin for ceasefire to deliver food to starving Ukrainian townpolitiko.com.ph
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Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, calling for a ceasefire in a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine while recovering in hospital from lung cancer surgery.

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The Vatican said Pope Leo expressed deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in Oleshky and called for a ceasefire to allow delivery of food and medical assistance, and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population.

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Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the pope took the initiative to call President Putin to plead for the besieged city, where around 2,000 civilians need safe routes out and humanitarian corridors.

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Russian news agencies reported that Putin thanked Pope Leo XIV for his willingness to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine and for his humanitarian initiatives, and wished him a speedy recovery following his recent surgery.

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This was the second time Pope Leo XIV and Putin had spoken, after a previous telephone conversation on 4 June 2025, less than a month after Leo XIV's election.

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