From hospital, Pope Leo pushes Putin for ceasefire in contested Ukraine city

Pope Leo spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Friday from his hospital bed, where he is recovering from lung cancer surgery. The Pope expressed deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, a city in Ukraine's Kherson region occupied by Russia. He called for a ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of food and medical aid, and to enable the safe, voluntary evacuation of civilians. The Vatican confirmed the Pope's appeal for a halt in fighting in the contested city.