Pope Leo calls Putin from hospital, seeks humanitarian aid for Ukraine

The Holy See Press Office announced the conversation on Friday afternoon, 16 October, saying the Pope expressed deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city, located in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Kherson region.

“During the conversation, the Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance, and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population,” the statement said.

The Vatican added that Pope Leo reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace.

Speaking later on the sidelines of a conference at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Pope had personally initiated the call to plead for civilians trapped in the city.

“It was the Holy Father who took the initiative to plead the case of this besieged city, where some 2,000 civilians need humanitarian routes through which they can leave,” Cardinal Parolin said.

He explained that the Pope had called for a ceasefire to allow food and other humanitarian assistance to reach the city and enable civilians wishing to leave to be evacuated.

“I hope that, in response to the Holy Father’s request, President Putin will agree to do what the Pope has asked,” the cardinal added.

He also expressed hope that Putin’s acceptance of the telephone call could be a positive sign.

“The fact that he accepted the call and spoke with the Pope may, I hope, be a sign that the Pope’s request will indeed be carried out,” Cardinal Parolin said.

The conversation was the second telephone call between Pope Leo XIV and the Russian president. They previously spoke on 4 June 2025.

Oleshky lies on the Dnieper River in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine’s Kherson region, near the frontline of the war.

The call came as Pope Leo was receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he had been admitted on Tuesday and underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, according to the information provided.