Pope Leo urges Vladimir Putin for ceasefire in occupied Ukraine city days after Pontiff's lung cancer op

Pope Leo urges Vladimir Putin for ceasefire in occupied Ukraine city days after Pontiff's lung cancer op Pope Leo called Vladimir Putin to call for a ceasefire in an occupied town that has had no food deliveries since May, days after the Pontiff was diagnosed with cancer Pope Leo XIV has spoken to Vladimir Putin to share his "deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation" in a Ukrainian city, just three days after he underwent lung cancer surgery. The Vatican, on Friday, revealed the Pontiff and Russian President spoke on the phone to call for a ceasefire in the occupied town of Oleshky, in the Kherson region. Residents in Oleshky, occupied by Russia since 2022, have had no food deliveries since May as the United Nations revealed 1,700 people remain trapped in the destroyed town. This comes after the Pope underwent a 90-minute operation to remove the lower lobe of his right lung on Tuesday, after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The surgery confirmed he had lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. A statement, released by the Vatican, on the Pope's call with Putin said: "During the conversation, the Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance, and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population. "Finally, the Holy Father reaffirmed the Holy See's commitment to promoting dialogue and peace." People in Oleshky face severe food and water shortages while electricity and medical care are limited. Residents have faced Russian drone attacks and escaping the city has been made near-impossible due to landmines on the roads out of Oleshky. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the crisis in Oleshky was a "genocide". Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland, he said: "Now we are not talking about famine there, we are talking about genocide. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, on Saturday, on Telegram wrote: "The choice that Russia leaves every day to civilian residents – stay and starve to death, leave and risk getting blown on a landmine." Pope Leo was seen for the first time today in images released by the Vatican. They showed him celebrating mass at a makeshift altar and chapel set up for him at the Gemelli hospital, in Rome. The Pontiff, 71, appeared relaxed as he stood over the altar in green garments. A second image showed Pope Leo holding up the Communion as his personal secretary, Peruvian priest Edgard Rimaycuna, stood by his side. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Pontiff presided alone over the liturgy, distributed Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes present and delivered a homily. In his homily, Pope Leo thanked the hospital staff "for the work they do every day taking care of the sick in their fragility, and in a particular way what they had done for him", the spokesman said. A medical update, signed by the Pope's personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone and head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli hospital, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, said: "His post-operative recovery allows him to carry out his normal daily activities completely on his own." The Vatican also revealed the Pope was set to deliver the traditional noontime prayer on Sunday, however they did not share if this would be done in person. Vatican media personnel were seen at the Gemelli hospital installing cables for a possible live broadcast, as has happened before when past popes have been treated in hospital. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said a recitation of the noontime prayer on Sunday from the hospital was a possibility, but would depend on how Leo's post-operative recovery progresses. On Thursday, the Chicago-born pope resumed working from his hospital room and met with his chief of staff, while continuing with respiratory physiotherapy. His doctors said tests showed his lung had recovered well from surgery, that other post-operative tests were in the norm and that overall his recovery was proceeding as expected. Doctors are still awaiting the results of tests to understand the precise molecular and genetic makeup of the cancer, whether it has spread beyond the lobe and whether any further treatment is necessary.