▲ Pope Leo XIV arrives at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for a pulmonary nodule removal surgery on October 13 (local time)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to cooperate with Pope Leo XIV's request to help allow essential supplies into the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, Reuters reported.
According to the report, the Pope called President Putin on October 16 local time to request a truce so that humanitarian aid and food could enter Oleshky.
Located in southern Ukraine, Oleshky has been occupied by Russian forces since February 2022, and residents are currently suffering from severe food shortages, to the point of foraging for wild weeds to eat.
The Vatican explained that the Pope expressed deep concern to President Putin regarding the humanitarian situation in the area.
The Kremlin stated in a release that it "supported the Vatican's intention to help ensure the safety of the city's residents and create conditions to organize the supply of essential goods," adding that they "agreed to cooperate on this issue."
However, there was no separate mention of a truce.
It is known that this was the second phone call between the Pope and President Putin, following their previous call in June of last year.
The Pope reportedly reiterated to President Putin that the Holy See supports any initiatives aimed at peace.
The 71-year-old Pope recently underwent lung cancer surgery and is currently recovering at a hospital in Rome.
The Kremlin stated that President Putin wished the Pope a speedy and full recovery.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, explained that the call was arranged at the Pope's initiative to appeal to President Putin regarding the plight of Oleshky.
Oleshky, located in Ukraine's Kherson Oblast, had a population of about 24,000 before the war.
Reports indicate that about 1,700 people, including 47 children, currently remain there.
Russia and Ukraine have been blaming each other for blocking supply deliveries to the region.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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