The pope was the first to criticize Putin, albeit indirectly, Reuters

The pope was the first to criticize Putin, albeit indirectly, Reuters

Pope Francis

Pope Francis on Saturday was the closest to what can be called implicit criticism of President Vladimir Putin for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,

KYIV. UkraineGate , 2 , April , 2022 | Ukraine News . 

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“Gloomy shadows of war are now spreading from Eastern Europe, from the land of the rising sun. We thought that invasions of other countries, brutal street battles and nuclear threats were gloomy memories of the distant past,” the pope said in Malta. visit.

“However, the icy winds of war, which bring only death, destruction and hatred, have hit many people hard and affected us all,” he said.

“Once again, unfortunately, a bishop immersed in anachronistic pursuits of nationalist interests provokes and inflames conflicts, while ordinary people feel the need to build a future that will either be common or not at all,” the pontiff said.

Details

It is reported that during the speech, Francis had a voice. According to the agency, citing a Vatican official, for the first time in 36 trips abroad, knee pain forced the Pope to use a freight elevator to board a plane in Rome and disembark in Valletta to avoid “unnecessary stress.”

According to the agency, the Pope sharply condemned what he called “unjustified aggression” and condemned the “atrocities” in the war.

But he directly mentioned Russia only in prayers, for example, during a special prayer for peace on March 25.

“Now, on the night of the war that has befallen humanity, we will not allow dreams of peace to fade,” he said on Saturday.

He again criticized the arms industry and lamented the decline in post-World War II enthusiasm for peace, saying the clash of interests and ideologies “re-emerged in the temptations of autocracy, new forms of imperialism (and widespread aggression).”

Earlier, when asked by a reporter on the plane if he was considering an invitation to visit Kyiv, the Pope said: “Yes, it is on the table.” He did not provide any details.

Earlier, Francis was invited to Kyiv by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klychko, Chief Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Church of Ukraine Sviatoslav Shevchuk and Ambassador of Ukraine to the Vatican Andriy Yurash.

Source: Ukrgate