Pope Leo
Pope Leo XIV is the head of the Catholic Church, elected pope on 8 May 2025. Before his election, he was a cardinal and Archbishop of Rome, as well as rector of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. His pontificate has taken place during the war in Ukraine and amid continued Catholic humanitarian efforts for people affected by the conflict.
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Ceasefire opens way for aid and evacuations from occupied Oleshky
Ukraine and Russia began a locally ceasefireed humanitarian mission in occupied Oleshky, enabling demining, aid deliveries and the planned evacuation of civilians and bodies from the city. Ukrainian reporting says the ceasefire started at 03:00 Kyiv time on 27 October, with no incidents recorded during its first 30 hours, while the Russian Defence Ministry reported a 04:00 start. Evacuations were planned to begin from the city hospital on the morning of 30 October.