Pope Leo XIV spoke by telephone with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine today, Oct. 19, seeking a humanitarian ceasefire with Russia to relieve the dramatic situation in the city of Oleshky. About 2,000 people, including children, are trapped in the city without food and with no way to escape, The New York Times reported on Oct. 5.

The Vatican broke news of the conversation in a statement issued at about 6:30 p.m. The pope is back in the Vatican, recovering from the surgery he underwent six days ago to remove a malignant nodule from his right lung.

“In the course of the conversation,” the statement said, “the Holy Father recalled the grave situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and made reference to the request for a humanitarian ceasefire that he had presented to the President of the Russian Federation.” 

“The Holy Father expressed the 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 statement said. 

Today’s phone call, like that with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 16, was initiated by the Holy See, America learned from informed Vatican sources who wished to remain anonymous.

Pope Leo is deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Oleshky, a city on the banks of the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine that sits directly in the line of fire along the war’s southern front. “There is no food, no safety and no escape,” The New York Times reported.

In this undated image from video provided by the Ukrainian 34th Separate Marine Brigade “Borysfen” on Sept. 30, 2026, destroyed cars are seen on a highway from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region of Ukraine. (Ukrainian 34th Separate Marine Brigade “Borysfen” via AP)

Ukraine blames Russia for the crisis; Russia blames Ukraine, as was clear from a statement issued by the Kremlin after the phone call between Pope Leo and Mr. Putin. 

During his conversation with President Putin, “the Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance, and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population,” the Vatican stated. 

In a statement after the call, the Kremlin said Mr. Putin “thanked the Pope for his willingness to contribute to the resolution of the conflict and his ongoing humanitarian efforts,” according to a report from The New York Times.

The Kremlin said the Russian president “supported the Vatican’s intention to facilitate the creation of conditions to ensure the safety of the city’s population and organize vital supplies. Cooperation in this regard was agreed upon.”

The fact is, however, that the situation has not changed in the days since the pope spoke to President Putin. The Russian and the Ukrainian sides still need to reach an agreement for the ceasefire to come into force and make it possible for aid to be delivered and people to reach safety.

The Vatican’s statement on Leo’s conversation with President Zelensky concluded by saying that “the Holy Father reaffirmed the commitment of the Holy See to promoting dialogue and peace.”

The pope and President Zelensky have met three times face-to-face since Leo’s election on May 8. They first met in the Vatican after the pope’s inauguration on May 18. They met for a second time at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo on July 9. Their third meeting took place on Dec. 9, again at Castel Gandolfo. They have also spoken by phone on a number of occasions.

Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.