Even as he recovers at Gemelli Hospital, Pope Leo XIV remains relentless in his pursuit of peace.
The Vatican says he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation apparently focused not on the pope’s health or his hospital stay, but on the grave humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, in southern Ukraine. The pope voiced deep concern over the situation.
Pope Leo called for a ceasefire to allow food and medical supplies into the city and enable the free and voluntary evacuation of civilians.
He also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to peace and dialogue.
The pope had spoken with Putin only once before, in June 2025, and peace between Russia and Ukraine was also the focus of that call. At the time, a second round of negotiations between the two countries had just failed.
The Ukrainian city of Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since the invasion began in February 2022. The humanitarian crisis has worsened in recent months, drawing condemnation from the United Nations, the European Union and other international organizations and world leaders.
