“Constant improvement” in the health conditions of Pope Leo who, from Gemelli, where he has been hospitalized since Tuesday, has returned to full work. Today a telephone conversation took place between the Pontiff and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Leone, expressing “deep concern for the serious humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region”, called for “a truce to allow the arrival of food and medical aid and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population”.
The Vatican press office reports that the Pontiff reiterated “the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and peace”. It is the second time that the two have spoken to each other, a previous phone call had taken place on 4 June 2025 and on that occasion Leone asked Moscow to make “a gesture that promotes peace”. «It was the Holy Father who took the initiative to plead the cause of this besieged city (Oleshky) in which there are approximately two thousand civilians who need exit channels, humanitarian channels», explained the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The Holy See has offered itself several times for possible negotiations and recently sent Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi on a mission to Moscow. The post-operative course is therefore proceeding well for the Pope and the improvement is also confirmed by the blood tests and chest x-ray performed today. Meanwhile, the Vatican has released two photos, the first, of the Pontiff celebrating mass on the tenth floor of the Gemelli hospital (in recent days he had concelebrated, ed.) and confirmed that the Angelus on Sunday “will take place” even if it has not been specified from where Leo will lead the Marian prayer.
Rumors are circulating about a possible early exit but the press room specifies that the hospitalization at the moment remains that indicated by the doctors: seven days from admission. Doctors Luigi Carbone, director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, and Stefano Margaritora, who led the thoracic surgery medical team, announced that the respiratory physiotherapy sessions continued and the post-operative recovery allows you to carry out normal daily activities in complete autonomy. The Pope’s resumption of work goes far beyond the expectations and fears on the eve of the surgery. All positive signs that demonstrate how the Pontiff is already managing the activity, even extraordinary, of governing the Holy See. And in the meantime, the organization of the trip that should take Pope Leo from 6 to 17 November to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru continues: today the list of 82 journalists, photographers and cameramen included in the papal flight was published. Obviously it is not an official confirmation of the trip but indirectly it underlines Leone’s willingness to want to leave.