rome —
Pope Leo met Russian President Vladimir Putin from a hospital on Friday, just days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, and expressed concern about the “grave humanitarian situation” in Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities.
The Vatican said in the telephone conversation that Leo expressed “deep concern” about the situation in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oreshki in the Kherson region. About 2,000 civilians remain in Oreshki, and Ukrainian authorities have announced that food and medicine supplies have been cut off.
Mr. Leo, whose Ukrainians are looking for help, called for a local ceasefire to safely evacuate civilians and deliver aid.
The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin “supported” the Vatican’s intention to help alleviate the dire humanitarian situation. Ukraine has accused Russia of “deliberately causing a humanitarian catastrophe” in Oreshky.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s secretary of state, told reporters he expected Putin to act on the pope’s request.
“I hope that in the face of a request from the pope, President Putin will agree to do what the pope has asked,” Parolin said.
The phone call between the pope and President Putin was the second since Leo became pontiff, and is another sign that the pontiff is returning to work after undergoing surgery for lung cancer on Tuesday.
Leo led Mass at noon on Friday in the presence of off-duty medical and nursing staff at Gemelli Hospital, as the Vatican said he had shown “steady improvement” after having part of his lung removed earlier in the week. Photos of the pope showed him standing and celebrating Mass in the hospital’s makeshift chapel.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin updates on Pope Leo XIV’s health
The Vatican said during his homily, the pope expressed gratitude to the staff who cared for him and those who were sick.
The Mass will be held in a room on the 10th floor of the hospital, with a suite set aside for when the pope is hospitalized for treatment.
The Vatican also announced that Pope Leo will make his first public appearance since treatment on Sunday and recite the traditional Angelus prayer.
US President Donald Trump said he had spoken to the pope’s brother and asked him to convey a message of well wishes for Leo’s safety.
“We prayed for his soul. I spoke to his brother and said we pray for his soul,” Trump said.
In an update from the Vatican, the news agency said Leo underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray on Friday morning.
Doctors involved in his treatment said Pope continued to receive respiratory physical therapy, adding that his recovery has allowed him to carry out normal daily activities independently.
The 71-year-old now has complete autonomy in movement and breathing, the Vatican added.
The results of post-surgery tests to confirm that the pope is completely cancer-free have not yet been released, nor is it clear what treatment, if any, he may require.
News of the pope’s diagnosis has been met with shock within the Vatican, where Leo is known as an activist and is believed to be in good health.
The pope’s official business has been canceled until October 20, and it is unclear whether his visit to Latin America, scheduled for November 6-17, will go ahead.
However, the Vatican continues to prepare for the trip and on Friday released a list of journalists who will accompany the pope to cover the trip.
This story has been updated.
CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova, Issy Ronald and Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.
