STORY: Pope Leo on Sunday (November 1) expressed his hope that the newly achieved ceasefire in Oleshky, Ukraine might "strengthen the desire for dialogue and lead to new, concrete initiatives for peace" during his weekly Angelus prayer taking place from the window of Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

The pontiff, speaking to the crowd that gathered in St Peter's Square, attributed this ceasefire to the "cooperation between parties which made this necessary act of humanity possible."

The six-day local ceasefire in Oleshky was reached after brokering efforts by US first lady Melania Trump and the pope. It is the longest local pause in the conflict that started with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Residents of the Russian-controlled town in southern Ukraine began evacuating on Friday (October 30) as part of a joint relief operation by the two sides, the first of its kind in four years and eight months of war.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VATICAN CITY (NOVEMBER 1, 2026) (VATICAN MEDIA – Access all)

1. POPE LEO APPEARING AND WAVING FROM WINDOW OF APOSTOLIC PALACE, WELCOMED BY CHEERING AND CLAPPING

2. CROWD CHEERING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!"

4. CROWD CLAPPING AND CHEERING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO, SAYING:

"Over the last days, a humanitarian operation in support of the civilian population in the town of Oleshky has taken place. I hope that the cooperation between parties, which made this necessary act of humanity possible, will strengthen the desire for dialogue and lead to new, concrete initiatives for peace. Let us entrust to Mary, our Lady of Peace and of All Saints, all those throughout the world who are suffering as a result of war."

6. CROWD CLAPPING

7. ST PETER'S BELLS RINGING

8. STATUES OF SAINTS OVER ST PETER'S SQUARE