Vatican says Pope seeks safe evacuation of civilians and delivery of food and medical assistance to besieged city
Vatican City, Oct 2026 : Pope Leo XIV has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and the safe evacuation of civilians amid a grave humanitarian crisis.
The Holy See Press Office said on Friday that the Pope spoke by telephone with Putin, expressing “deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region.”
During the conversation, the pontiff called for a ceasefire to allow food and medical assistance to reach the city and enable the voluntary and safe evacuation of its civilian population. He also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace.
Oleshky lies along the frontline in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine’s Kherson region, on the banks of the Dnieper River. The city’s location has raised concerns about access to essential supplies and safe passage for civilians.
The telephone conversation came as Pope Leo XIV continued his hospital stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was admitted on Tuesday for surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
The Pope had previously spoken with Putin by telephone on June 4, 2025.
Cardinal Parolin Says Pope Took Initiative
Following the call, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Pope had personally taken the initiative to raise the plight of Oleshky’s residents.
Speaking on the sidelines of a conference at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Parolin said around 2,000 civilians in the besieged city needed humanitarian routes to leave safely.
“The Pope called for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid, especially food, to reach the city and to enable those who wish to leave to be evacuated,” Parolin said.
He expressed hope that Putin would respond positively to the pontiff’s appeal. The fact that the Russian president had accepted the call and spoken with the Pope, he added, could be a sign that the request might be implemented.
The Vatican’s appeal underscores the Holy See’s continuing efforts to encourage dialogue and secure humanitarian relief for civilians affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
