Pope Leo speaks with President Zelensky, calls for humanitarian aid

2:22 PM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV called Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to urge cooperation with Russia on humanitarian aid and evacuations in Oleshky.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv during the Russo-Ukrainian War 2 — Photo: The Presidential Office of Ukraine / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging cooperation between Ukraine and Russia to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians from Oleshky, a city in the Kherson region facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

The Vatican press office said the conversation centered on the 'grave situation' in Oleshky, which has been under Russian military occupation since 2022.

Pope Leo XIV requested a humanitarian ceasefire to allow food and medical aid to reach the city and permit the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians.

In the call, the Pope also recalled his previous request to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Separately, the Pope reaffirmed the Vatican's commitment to dialogue and peace to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

This is Pope Leo XIV's second known phone call with Putin since becoming pope.

Background

Pope Leo XIV spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, urging cooperation between Ukraine and Russia to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians from Oleshky, a city in the Kherson region facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

Pope Leo XIV called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to establish a ceasefire in Oleshky, Ukraine, to allow humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations, according to multiple reports from international outlets.

Vatican News is the official news portal of the Holy See, serving as a source of information about the activities, pronouncements, and events related to the global Catholic Church and the operations of the Holy See.

What's confirmed

(OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing hope that Ukraine and Russia will cooperate on humanitarian aid and evacuations for civilians in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky, the Vatican said.
In an Oct. 19 statement, the Vatican press office said the conversation centered on “the grave situation” in the city, which has been under Russian military occupation since 2022.
In that call, the pope requested a humanitarian ceasefire, the Vatican said.
ROME — Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging cooperation with Russia to allow humanitarian aid into the embattled city of Oleshky and the safe evacuation of civilians, the Vatican said.
Leo recalled the “grave situation” in Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, and told Zelenskyy about his request to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a humanitarian ceasefire, according to a Vatican statement.
The conversation on Friday was Leo’s second known phone call with Putin since becoming pope.
The pope expressed hope that cooperation between the two sides would allow food and medical aid to reach the city and permit the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians.

What's still developing

Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.

Sources

OSV Newslink
The Dialoglink
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OSV Newslink
Catholicweeklylink
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WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Calls for Humanitarian Ceasefire in Ukraine link
WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo urges Ukraine-Russia humanitarian cooperation as Russian strike kills children at playground link
Wikipedia — background on Vatican News link