Pope Leo XIV has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a gesture in support of peace with Ukraine, SIR (Servizio Informazione Religiosa) reported.
The Holy See press service confirmed that the newly elected pope had a telephone conversation with Putin.
The Pope has stressed the importance of dialogue for achieving positive contacts between the parties in search of solutions to the conflict, the Vatican added.
The Kremlin also confirmed the conversation. Putin expressed his "gratitude" to the Pope "for his readiness to contribute to the resolution" of the conflict.
The Holy Father expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Kirill for the congratulations received on the occasion of the beginning of his pontificate and "underlined that the common Christian values can be a light that helps in the search for peace, the defense of life, and the pursuit of true religious freedom“.