The key facts

  • Pope Leo XIV called Putin on October 16, 2026, urging a ceasefire in Oleshky to deliver aid and evacuate civilians.
  • According to the Vatican, about 2,000 residents remain in the city; according to officials, about 1,700 out of the pre-war 24,000.
  • The Kremlin placed 'responsibility' for the humanitarian situation on Ukraine; Secretary of State Parolin expressed hope that Putin would fulfill the pope's request.

Phone conversation between the pontiff and the Russian president

On Friday, October 16, 2026, Pope Leo XIV held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Vatican, the pontiff, who is recovering at the Gemelli clinic in Rome after lung surgery for cancer, expressed deep concern over the grave humanitarian situation in Oleshky in the Kherson region and called for a ceasefire to ensure the delivery of food and medical aid, as well as the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population. He also reaffirmed the Holy See's commitment to dialogue and peace.

The Vatican's initiative and the Secretary of State's position

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the initiative for the call came from the pope himself: he wanted to 'plead for this besieged city, where about two thousand civilians remain, who need routes out, humanitarian corridors.' According to Parolin, the pope requested a ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid, primarily food, and to evacuate those who must leave the city. 'I hope that, responding to the Holy Father's request, President Putin will agree to do what he has been asked,' the cardinal added.

The Kremlin's reading

In a statement quoted by Russian agencies, the Kremlin said Putin thanked the pope for his willingness to help settle the conflict and for his humanitarian initiatives, and also wished him a speedy recovery after his recent surgery. According to the Kremlin's version, Putin gave a 'detailed explanation' of 'Ukraine's responsibility for the grave humanitarian situation' in Oleshky. The statement also notes that both sides expressed interest in continuing dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, supported the Vatican's intention to help create conditions for the safety of the population and the delivery of necessary goods, and agreed to coordinate efforts in this direction.

The situation in Oleshky and the history of contacts

Oleshky, whose pre-war population was 24,000, has been under Russian control since 2022; according to officials, about 1,700 residents remain in the city, while the Vatican cites a figure of about 2,000. This is Leo XIV's second conversation with Putin: they previously spoke by phone on June 4, 2025, less than a month after the pontiff's election. The previous pope, Francis, last spoke with Putin on December 17, 2021; after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, his attempts to establish direct contact with the Russian president proved unsuccessful.