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Pope Leo XIV Secures Ceasefire in Oleshky

Updated 7:10 PM ET · 4:51 PM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV secured a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian town, allowing aid and evacuations.

Pope Leo XIV personally appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging cooperation to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians from Oleshky, a city in the Kherson region under Russian occupation.

A tense calm has returned to Oleshky, where a humanitarian ceasefire is intended to allow food and medicine to reach civilians and provide safe evacuation routes.

The Pope's intervention has led to a ceasefire that began at 3 a.m. local time and is expected to continue until November 1, allowing humanitarian convoys to travel safely through the Kherson region.

According to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo himself took the initiative to help the besieged town, resuming work activities just days after undergoing surgery for lung adenocarcinoma.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the Pope's intervention, confirming that Ukraine is working to help residents and prepare solutions for their evacuation.

Across the Dnipro River, in Ukrainian-controlled Kherson, residents have noticed less drone activity and shelling since the ceasefire began.

The U.S. First Lady Melania Trump said the ceasefire had been expanded beyond Oleshky to allow humanitarian convoys to travel safely through additional parts of the Kherson region.

Russian and Ukrainian officials confirmed their forces were observing the ceasefire, which began on October 29.

The Kremlin confirmed Putin’s call with the Pope, agreeing to help protect residents and provide essential supplies.

Pope Leo emphasized the need to reopen diplomatic channels and expressed hope that the international community would work toward a cessation of hostilities and a lasting peace.

The Pope's efforts have brought a rare moment of hope to civilians trapped under Russian occupation, with Oleshky's population now roughly 2,000, many of them elderly.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Pope Leo personally appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing what the Vatican described as his “deep concern” about the humanitarian crisis.
• Today, roughly 2,000 remain, many of them elderly.
• A tense calm has returned to the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky, where the humanitarian ceasefire is intended to allow desperately needed food and medicine to reach civilians and provide safe evacuation routes.
• “The one thing I noticed, there are no drones buzzing in the sky,” she said.
• “One grandson is being treated in Ivano-Frankivsk hospital, and my wife will get her leg amputated,” he explained.
• “You look at the remains of your food products and realize that you have only one choice: either escape or die of starvation,” he told Reuters.
• Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Pope himself had taken the initiative to help the besieged town.
• Across the Dnipro River, in Ukrainian-controlled Kherson, residents have noticed less drone activity and shelling since the ceasefire began.
• However, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump said the ceasefire had been expanded beyond Oleshky to allow humanitarian convoys to travel safely through additional parts of the Kherson region.
• Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Oleshky had about 24,000 inhabitants.

What's still developing

• A ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky will begin October 29 to allow humanitarian aid and evacuations of elderly residents, the White House announced this week A ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky will begin October 29 to allow humanitarian aid and evacuations of elderly residents, the White House announced this week Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?
• Erdogan said immediate steps must be taken to strengthen the ceasefire reached in Gaza, protect civilians and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.
• “Today, more than ever, we need people who will promote dialogue and practice it with firm will and patient resolve.” Leo’s visit comes as Turkey, a country of more than 85 million people of predominantly Sunni Muslims, has cast itself as a key intermediary in efforts to end the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
• According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff specifically referred to the humanitarian ceasefire he had requested during his Oct. 16 conversation with Putin.
• Pope Leo, 71, is recovering at Rome’s Gemelli hospital following surgery for lung cancer.
• The White House said that channel had already facilitated six reunification efforts involving 34 children.
• The Holy See Press Office said Friday that the Pope spoke by telephone with Putin, expressing deep concern over conditions in the Russian-occupied Kherson region, where civilians face growing humanitarian needs.

Sources

• Warpbeatlink
• Worthynewslink
• The-Independentlink
• Princegeorgecitizenlink
• Worthynewslink
• Kyivpostlink
• Politikolink
• OSV Newslink
• Holalink
• Capitalfmlink
• WarpBeat — background on Shevchuk brings ‘Ukraine’s prayers’ and list of prisoners to Pope Leo link
• WarpBeat — background on Shevchuk brings ‘Ukraine’s prayers’ and list of prisoners to Pope Leo link
• Wikipedia — background on Southern Ukraine link