Pope Leo has expressed hope that a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky could serve as a stepping stone towards renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Speaking during his Sunday prayer, the pontiff welcomed the humanitarian operation that enabled assistance to reach civilians in the frontline town, where residents have faced severe shortages of food and medicine.
He said the cooperation between the two sides in facilitating the operation could help create momentum for further negotiations.
“A humanitarian operation has been carried out to help the civilian population in the city of Oleshky. I hope that the cooperation between the parties, which made this necessary humanitarian gesture possible, will strengthen their willingness to engage in dialogue and lead to fresh concrete initiatives for peace,” Pope Leo said.
Russia and Ukraine announced on October 23 that they had agreed to a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky, a town under Russian occupation. The arrangement was intended to facilitate humanitarian deliveries and the evacuation of civilians from the embattled area.
The initiative was reportedly brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, with the involvement of Pope Leo, as the humanitarian situation in the town continued to deteriorate.
The ceasefire represented a rare instance of direct cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict. The Vatican has repeatedly called for humanitarian assistance to reach civilians affected by the fighting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that representatives involved in peace negotiations are expected to hold another round of discussions in early November, raising hopes that diplomatic contacts could gain momentum.
Pope Leo has maintained communication with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy. On October 16, the pontiff spoke with the two leaders, urging efforts to ensure humanitarian assistance could reach civilians in Russian-occupied Oleshky.
According to the Kremlin, Putin expressed support for a Vatican-led initiative to deliver supplies to the town’s residents and indicated Moscow’s readiness to cooperate.
However, the Vatican has played down suggestions that it directly negotiated the ceasefire. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s foreign minister, said on October 27 that although the Pope had recently spoken with both presidents, he did not believe the Vatican had been directly involved in arranging the six-day truce.
The humanitarian operation in Oleshky nevertheless offers a potential opening for further diplomatic engagement, with Pope Leo hoping that cooperation over civilian assistance can translate into more substantial progress towards peace. Photo by ru:user:Gottinight, Wikimedia commons.
