Pope Leo XVI asked Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cooperate in helping civilians in Oleshky

Pope Leo XVI spoke by telephone on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the serious humanitarian situation in the city of Oleskyi, in the Kherson region, which is under Russian control. The Vatican announced that the Pontiff called for a humanitarian ceasefire and for cooperation between the two sides to deliver food and medical aid, as well as to safely evacuate civilians who wish to leave.

The conversation took place three days after a telephone call between Pope Leo XVI and Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his discussion with the Kremlin leader, the Pope called for a ceasefire to allow supplies to reach the population of Oleskyi and for its evacuation, as residents are reportedly deprived of food and emergency medical care.

According to the Vatican, the Pope expressed hope that cooperation between Russia and Ukraine would make humanitarian intervention possible. The Kremlin said after the call that Vladimir Putin wished the Pontiff a speedy recovery, but assigned responsibility for the difficult humanitarian situation in the city to the authorities in Kyiv.

The discussion with Zelenskyy took place two days after the 71-year-old Pope was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital. Leo XVI had been hospitalized for the removal of a cancerous tumor from one lung.