Pope Leo XIV urges humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Russia during call with Zelenskyy

Pope Leo XIV held a telephone conversation on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to an announcement from the Vatican. During the call, the Pope urged for humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and Russia to facilitate the safe evacuation of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the embattled city of Oleshky.

The discussion centered on addressing the severe conditions resulting from the ongoing conflict, with the Vatican noting that the pontiff recalled the grave situation on the ground. The diplomatic outreach underscores the Vatican's ongoing efforts to advocate for civilian protection and humanitarian access in the conflict zones.