Pope Leo XIV Calls Putin From Hospital to Urge Ceasefire in Ukraine
Pope Leo XIV, recovering from lung surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to express deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky and to request a ceasefire allowing food, medical aid, and civilian evacuation. The Kremlin confirmed Putin's support for Vatican humanitarian efforts but blamed Ukraine for blocking supplies.
Pope Leo XIV telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin from his hospital bed at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic to press for a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Holy See announced. The call, made while the pontiff continues his recovery from lung surgery, focused on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region.
According to a statement from the Vatican Press Office, the Pope expressed his «deep concern over the grave humanitarian situation» in Oleshky and appealed for a truce that would allow the delivery of food and medical assistance, as well as the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians. The pontiff also reaffirmed the Holy See's commitment to promoting dialogue and peace, the statement said.
The conversation took place three days after the Pope underwent surgery to remove part of a lung following a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. He remains hospitalized for recovery, though medical bulletins have reported steady improvement and the pontiff has regained his autonomy. Despite his convalescence, he has resumed some working activities, including this call to the Russian president.
The Kremlin confirmed that Putin expressed support for the Vatican's initiative to help the residents of Oleshky. However, Russian state media aligned with the Kremlin reported that Putin used the conversation to blame Ukraine directly for the humanitarian catastrophe, accusing Kyiv's forces of blocking supplies to the population. The Kremlin's readout also emphasized that Putin stressed to the Pope the importance of mutual cooperation to defend Christians and places of worship in various conflict regions around the world.
Since his election in May 2025, the American-born pontiff has repeatedly voiced concern over the war in Ukraine, issuing public appeals for an end to the conflict and offering the Holy See as a venue for potential negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. His first conversation with Putin took place on June 4 of that year, during which he already urged a «gesture that favors peace» in Ukraine. He has also received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican on several occasions.
The Pope's most recent public reference to the war came after the Angelus prayer last Sunday, shortly before he revealed his lung cancer diagnosis. From the window of the Apostolic Palace, he urged ensuring grain trade in the Black Sea, warning that many poor countries depend on imports of this staple food. «The war in martyred Ukraine continues to cause suffering even far beyond its borders, especially in the poorest countries, where so many people depend on grain imports,» he said. He then issued an «urgent» appeal to the parties in the conflict to «allow the safe transport of grain through the Black Sea,» because, he said, «the daily bread of millions of people cannot be held hostage by war.»
The Pope is now in his fourth day of convalescence following surgery. Although his official agenda has been cleared until October 20, he has already resumed some work activities, such as this call to Putin confirmed by the Vatican. On Friday afternoon, he also received his first visitors: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, whom he recently appointed dean of the College of Cardinals, a key figure in the Roman Curia, and Cardinal Baldassare Reina, his vicar for the Diocese of Rome.
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