Pope Leo speaks with Putin from hospital, just days after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin from hospital on Friday, just days after his lung cancer surgery, and expressed his concern about the “grave humanitarian situation” in a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city. During the call, the Vatican said Leo expressed “deep concern” about the conditions in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city in the Kherson region where Ukrainian authorities say around 2,000 civilians remain and supply routes for food and medicine are blocked. Leo, to whom Ukrainians have appealed for help, called for a local ceasefire to allow for civilians to be safely evacuated and aid to be delivered. Putin “supported” the Vatican’s intention to help alleviate the dire humanitarian situation, the Kremlin said in a statement. Ukraine has accused Russia of “deliberately creating a humanitarian catastrophe” in Oleshky. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See secretary of state, told reporters he hoped Putin would act on the pope’s requests.