Pope Leo XIV Urges Putin to Allow Oleshky Evacuations

Pope Leo XIV telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin from his hospital bed this week to demand an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Ukrainian city of Oleshky, attempting to leverage the Vatican’s diplomatic neutrality to break a months-long humanitarian blockade.

The 71-year-old pontiff made the call while recovering at Gemelli University Hospital in Rome following a lobectomy to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after a lung cancer diagnosis earlier in the week. The intervention marks one of the most direct attempts by the Holy See to negotiate localized battlefield conditions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Oleshky, located on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, has been under Russian occupation since the opening days of the war. According to Ukrainian officials and international monitors, no food deliveries have reached the city since May. Residents are surviving without electricity, natural gas, or running water, and the local hospital is barely operational. Protesters in Kyiv have recently staged demonstrations outside City Hall demanding that Western allies pressure Moscow into opening a humanitarian corridor for the trapped population.

During the conversation, the pope pressed for a halt in hostilities specifically to allow the delivery of medical supplies and food, as well as the safe, voluntary evacuation of civilians. The Vatican confirmed the exchange in a statement, reiterating the Holy See’s broader commitment to promoting dialogue.

Moscow deflected responsibility for the crisis. The Kremlin stated that Putin offered the pope a “detailed explanation” blaming the Ukrainian government for the deteriorating conditions in Oleshky. Russian forces have controlled the city since early 2022, but Moscow frequently attributes infrastructure failures in occupied territories to Ukrainian artillery strikes or sabotage operations. Despite the blame-shifting, the Kremlin noted that Putin expressed support for the Vatican’s intention to help facilitate the delivery of essential supplies and ensure civilian safety.

The papal outreach occurs alongside separate diplomatic tracks aimed at de-escalating the conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, targeting attacks on power grids and critical infrastructure ahead of the winter heating season. Trump also publicly wished Pope Leo a speedy recovery following his cancer diagnosis, praising the pontiff’s brother during his remarks.

Vatican diplomacy traditionally relies on quiet, behind-the-scenes mediation rather than public demands directed at heads of state. Pope Francis, Leo XIV’s predecessor, repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine but faced criticism from Kyiv for avoiding direct condemnation of Russia. The decision by the newly elected American pope to personally call Putin from a surgical recovery ward signals a more aggressive diplomatic posture from the Holy See regarding specific humanitarian flashpoints.

Medical staff at Gemelli reported that the pope is showing “continued improvement.” A joint update signed by his personal physician, Luigi Carbone, and Dr. Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at the hospital, confirmed that his post-operative recovery allows him to carry out normal daily activities completely independently. The Vatican released the first photographs of the pope since his procedure, showing him standing at an altar to celebrate Mass in a makeshift hospital chapel.

The pope is scheduled to deliver his traditional Sunday Angelus prayer either from the hospital or the Vatican. His medical team currently expects him to proceed with a planned pastoral trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru beginning Nov. 6.