Pope Leo Calls Zelenskyy on Oleshky's Humanitarian Crisis
Recovering from lung surgery, the Holy Father renewed his ceasefire appeal so food and medicine can reach about 2,000 trapped civilians.
On October 19, Pope Leo XIV held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Pope recalled “the grave situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region” and referred to the humanitarian ceasefire he had requested from Russian President Vladimir Putin in a call days earlier, while still recovering from surgery.
He expressed hope that “cooperation between both parties will allow for the delivery of food and medical aid, and for the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population.” The Pope also reaffirmed “the commitment of the Holy See to promoting dialogue and peace.”
Civilians Trapped in Occupied Oleshky
Oleshky, in the Kherson region, has been under Russian military occupation since 2022. Roughly 2,000 civilians, including about 40 children, face severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. Conditions have worsened since May, as mines and drones have blocked access routes.
President Zelenskyy said he briefed the Pope in detail on Russian escalation and strikes on Ukrainian cities and discussed the “humanitarian catastrophe” in occupied Oleshky. “We are working to help our people there. We are preparing decisions,” he stated. He noted that the Pope informed him of contacts with the Russian side and thanked him for remembering Ukraine “even during this difficult time for him personally.”
Diplomacy After Surgery
The exchange came two days after Pope Leo XIV’s discharge from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on October 17, following surgery for lung cancer to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. His earlier call to President Putin was at least the second since the start of his pontificate; a previous conversation on June 4, 2025, had likewise focused on Ukraine.
Vatican engagement on the conflict has continued through phone contacts and in-person meetings, including encounters at the pontiff’s inaugural Mass on May 18, 2025, and at Castel Gandolfo on July 9 and December 9, 2025. The Holy See’s line remains unchanged: dialogue, concrete relief for civilians, and the pursuit of peace.