Vatican City, Holy See

Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, the Vatican said, days after a similar call made by the pontiff to Russia's Vladimir Putin.

"The Holy Father recalled the grave situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and made reference to the request for a humanitarian ceasefire that he had presented to the President of the Russian Federation," the Vatican wrote in a note.

"His Holiness expressed the hope that cooperation between both parties will allow for the delivery of food and medical aid, and for the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population," it added.

In a post on Facebook, the Ukrainian leader said he had briefed the spiritual leader of the world's Roman Catholics "in detail on the situation with Russian escalation and Russia's constant strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities".

Zelensky also said he had complained to the US-born pontiff about "the periodic lack of warnings from our partners about Russian ballistic missile attacks -- something that has happened three times recently".

The Ukrainian leader has accused the United States of withholding vital intelligence and slowing speeds on the Starshield system used on the battlefield to launch counter-strikes, prompting denials from Washington.

The call to Zelensky comes two days after Leo, 71, was discharged from Rome's Gemelli hospital where he underwent a lung cancer operation on Tuesday.

From the hospital, Leo called Putin on Friday, at which point he urged a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in southern Ukraine.

Residents of Oleshky are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis with shortages of food and medication as they are caught in the crossfire between Russian and Ukrainian troops.

After the call, the Kremlin said Putin had wished the pope a speedy recovery, but had explained to him "the Kyiv regime's responsibility for the difficult humanitarian situation" in Oleshky.

The calls to the leaders of Russia and Ukraine underscore the pope's willingness to keep working despite the operation that removed the lower part of his right lung, where a cancerous tumour had been detected.

On Sunday, in his first major public appearance since his hospitalisation, he told the crowds gathered in St Peter's Square that he wanted to "gradually resume my activities".

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