Pope Leo XIV has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in Ukraine’s Kherson region, so humanitarian aid can reach civilians and residents can leave safely.
The phone call took place on Friday, 16 October 2026, while the Pope was recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic after lung cancer surgery. The Vatican said the conversation focused on the serious humanitarian conditions reported in the city, where civilians are said to need food, medical assistance and safe evacuation routes.
Pope Leo XIV asks for humanitarian truce in Oleshky
According to the Vatican, Pope Leo expressed deep concern about the situation in Oleshky and called for a truce to enable the delivery of essential supplies. The requested pause would also create the conditions for the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Pope had taken the initiative to contact Putin directly. He described the appeal as an effort to secure humanitarian corridors for residents affected by the conflict.
The Vatican’s account said the priorities were:
- Delivering food and medical assistance to civilians;
- Establishing safe routes for people who want to leave;
- Allowing voluntary evacuations under secure conditions;
- Creating a temporary cessation of hostilities around the city.
The appeal is a diplomatic and humanitarian request. The information provided does not indicate that Russia has agreed to the proposed truce or that a ceasefire has entered into force.
What is known about the situation in Oleshky?
Oleshky is located in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, an area heavily affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion. The Vatican said around 2,000 civilians in the city require safe routes out and humanitarian assistance.
Because access to areas under occupation can be restricted, independent verification of conditions on the ground may be difficult. The Vatican’s statement identifies the needs cited in the call, but it does not provide details about a timetable, proposed corridor locations or the specific arrangements required to deliver aid.
Any humanitarian corridor would require practical coordination between the parties involved, including security guarantees and agreement on the movement of civilians and relief supplies. The Pope’s intervention does not itself create a legal ceasefire or compel either side to accept the proposal.
Putin responds to Pope’s appeal
A statement reported by Russian news agencies said Putin thanked Pope Leo for his willingness to help resolve the war in Ukraine and for his humanitarian initiatives. The Russian president also reportedly wished the Pope a speedy recovery from his surgery.
The response, as described in the available material, does not confirm that Putin accepted the request for a truce in Oleshky. Further clarification from Moscow or the Vatican would be needed to establish whether discussions about humanitarian access will continue and whether any operational agreement is reached.
Second phone conversation between Pope Leo and Putin
The call was the second known telephone conversation between Pope Leo XIV and the Russian president. Their first reported conversation took place on 4 June 2025, less than a month after Leo’s election.
The contact also continues the Vatican’s efforts to maintain channels of communication connected to the war in Ukraine. Pope Francis last spoke with Putin on 17 December 2021. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, attempts by Pope Francis to establish direct contact with the Russian leader were unsuccessful, according to the supplied report.
Why the Vatican intervention matters
The Vatican does not control military operations in Ukraine, and the Pope’s appeal cannot substitute for negotiations between the governments and authorities directly involved. However, the intervention places the immediate humanitarian needs of civilians at the centre of the diplomatic discussion.
Calls for local truces can be intended to achieve limited objectives rather than resolve the wider conflict. In this case, the stated goals are the delivery of food and medical aid and the safe, voluntary departure of civilians who wish to leave Oleshky.
The key question now is whether the Russian authorities will agree to arrangements that can be verified and implemented. Until such an agreement is confirmed, the proposed truce remains an appeal rather than an active ceasefire.
What happens next?
The next steps would depend on responses from the parties controlling access to Oleshky and on the ability of humanitarian organisations to operate safely. Any arrangement would need clear information on:
- Whether a ceasefire has been accepted;
- How long it would last;
- Which routes civilians could use;
- Who would coordinate food and medical deliveries;
- How the safety of civilians and aid workers would be monitored.
For now, the confirmed development is the Pope’s direct request to Putin. No agreement on a humanitarian corridor or evacuation operation has been announced in the supplied information.
Conclusion
Pope Leo XIV’s call for a truce in Oleshky represents a direct Vatican appeal focused on civilian protection and humanitarian access. The proposal seeks food, medical assistance and safe evacuation routes for residents, but it has not been reported as accepted or implemented. The most important development to watch is whether Moscow and the relevant authorities can turn the appeal into a verified, temporary arrangement for civilians in the city.
