Pope Leo XIV held a telephone conversation this Monday with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to address the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, a town in the Kherson region occupied by Russian forces. The contact took place after the Pontiff spoke on Friday with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, to whom he had requested a truce to facilitate the entry of aid and the evacuation of the civilian population.
During the communication with Zelensky, the Holy Father expressed his concern for the living conditions of the inhabitants of Oleshky and recalled the request for a humanitarian pause that he had already presented to Moscow. According to Vatican News, Leo XIV expressed his hope that cooperation between the parties would allow for the access of food, medical aid, and mechanisms for a voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians.
The Pontiff also reaffirmed the Holy See's commitment to dialogue and the search for peace, in a context where the war continues to affect different regions of Ukraine.
Oleshky, a city isolated by the war
The situation in Oleshky represents one of the focuses of humanitarian concern in the Kherson region. According to Ukrainian sources cited in the Vatican report, about 2,000 people remain in the town, including about 50 children, in conditions of extreme precariousness.
Over the last few months, residents have suffered from a lack of essential services, such as drinking water, electricity, and medicine. The absence of ambulances aggravates the difficulties in attending to medical emergencies, while restrictions on leaving the city keep the population in a state of isolation.
The possibilities for evacuation are also severely limited. The bridge that connected Oleshky to Kherson was destroyed in November 2022, while the exit roads and paths in nearby towns are mined, according to the Vatican report.
In this scenario, Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of preventing the establishment of humanitarian corridors, while Moscow blames Kyiv for the difficulties in enabling those passages.
Given the gravity of the situation, Leo XIV is seeking for both governments to agree to a truce that would allow for the entry of basic supplies and guarantee the departure of those who wish to leave the city without putting their lives at risk.
The intervention in Oleshky is part of the diplomatic strategy that Leo XIV has been promoting since the beginning of his pontificate. A few days after being elected, the Pope offered the Vatican as a neutral venue for potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with the goal of contributing to a peaceful, just, and lasting solution.
The contact with Putin, as explained by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was an initiative of the Pontiff himself. During that conversation, Leo XIV requested a pause in hostilities that would allow for the delivery of food and medicine, as well as a safe evacuation of the civilians trapped in Oleshky.
The initiative reflects the Holy See's intention to keep communication channels open with both governments, even in the midst of the deep differences that persist between Moscow and Kyiv.
Leo XIV's contacts with Zelensky
Monday's dialogue adds to a series of meetings and communications between the Pope and the Ukrainian president. The first official telephone contact took place on May 12, 2025, just four days after the election of Leo XIV. On that occasion, Zelensky invited the Pontiff to visit Kyiv and expressed Ukraine's willingness to participate in new negotiations, including direct talks.
The two met again on May 18, 2025, after the inaugural mass of the pontificate held in St. Peter's Square. Subsequently, on July 9, they held a private audience at Villa Barberini, the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, where they analyzed the possibility of organizing future peace talks at the Vatican.
On December 9 of that year, the Pope and Zelensky met again in Castel Gandolfo. Among the topics addressed were the need to keep the dialogue open, the situation of prisoners of war, and the return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia.
In parallel, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi continued his diplomatic and humanitarian efforts with visits to Kyiv and Moscow. The work of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, in the Holy See's efforts to maintain communication channels was also highlighted.
On April 3, during Easter, Leo XIV had again communicated with Zelensky amidst a new escalation of Russian drone and missile attacks. On that occasion, he expressed his solidarity with the Ukrainian people and reiterated his calls for humanitarian assistance, the release of prisoners, and a negotiated exit to the conflict.
With his new appeal for Oleshky, the Pope seeks to translate his diplomatic efforts into an immediate response for the civilians affected by the war, while insisting on the need to move toward a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
