Coverage dated October 16, 2026 to October 20, 2026
Pope Leo XIV urges humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Russia during call with Zelenskyy
Headline from Crux, on the newest of 2 developments
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.
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Pope Leo XIV called Putin from his hospital bed on Oct. 17, 2026, urging a ceasefire in Oleshky for aid and safe civilian evacuation while recovering from lung cancer surgery.
Pope Leo XIV “spoke by telephone” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, from his hospital room on Oct. 16 and asked him to call for a ceasefire in Oleshky, where the humanitarian situation is dire.
The pope called for a local ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and the safe evacuation of civilians from the front-line city, where around 2,000 residents remain trapped amid severe shortages of food and medicine.
From the Gemelli Hospital, where he has been since his surgery on Tuesday, Leo XIV spoke on the telephone with Vladimir Putin this October 16, the Holy See Press Office reported. The Pope asked the Russian President for relief for the small city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region.
Recovering from lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a plea for Oleshky, where mines and drones have trapped about 2,000 people who are at risk of starvation.
Pope Leo XIV urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cooperate with Russia to deliver food and medical aid to civilians trapped in occupied Oleshky and enable their safe evacuation, reiterating his call to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a humanitarian ceasefire.
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.
Pope Leo XIV held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Monday, just a few days after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin while recovering from lung cancer surgery.
Three days after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pope Leo XIV spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 19, 2026, the Vatican announced. Once again, the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky was central to their discussion, with the Pope renewing his appeal for a “hum…
Pope Leo XIV spoke by telephone with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine today, seeking a humanitarian ceasefire with Russia in the city of Oleshky, where 2,000 people are trapped without food.
The conversation with Zelensky comes three days after the pope spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to call for a ceasefire to evacuate civilians from the front-line town.
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Pope Leo XIV urges humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Russia during call with Zelenskyy | Since Then
