Pope Leo XIV called on Putin to ensure the evacuation from Oleshky

Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin. He expressed concern about the situation in Oleshky.

This was reported by Vatican News. 

During the conversation, the Holy Father called for a ceasefire to ensure that food and medical aid could be delivered to local residents. He also emphasized the need for a voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population.

At the same time, the Pope reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace.

The previous telephone conversation between Pope Leo XIV and Vladimir Putin took place on June 4, 2025, and marked their first official conversation since the pontiff’s election to the Apostolic See. The call was prompted by a congratulatory message from the Kremlin leader on the occasion of the beginning of Leo XIV’s pontificate.

During this conversation, the Pope called on Moscow to take a concrete step toward peace and to resume dialogue, and he also confirmed the Vatican’s readiness to provide a venue for peace talks.

Earlier, Ukraine had called on the Vatican to facilitate the creation of a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of residents from the Russian-occupied towns of Oleshky and Hola Prystan on the left bank of the Kherson region.

In addition,the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations called on the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and world religious leaders to urgently facilitate the evacuation of residents from the occupied town of Oleshky. 

Юлія Калабайда