The Pope, in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI, expressed his opinion on Ukraine's need to engage in negotiations with Russia, citing the casualties resulting from the war:
"I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates," the Pope said.
Francis emphasized that negotiations should occur with the support of global powers.
In response, the Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See, in a statement on the X portal, drew parallels with the Second World War, questioning the feasibility of peace negotiations with aggressors: "Did anyone then seriously talk about peace negotiations with Hitler and the white flag to satisfy him?"
The embassy argued that to end the war, the aggressor must be defeated.
Also, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, affirmed Ukraine's resilience, stating that Ukraine remains wounded but undefeated and unwilling to surrender. He invited "skeptics" to visit the country.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, in response to Pope Francis' remarks, wrote on the X portal: "How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine?"
"Peace would immediately ensue without the need for negotiations," Sikorski added.
Critics have repeatedly expressed concerns about the perceived alignment of the Pope with Russian messaging. Notably, the Pope has refrained from directly condemning president Vladimir Putin or Russia throughout the two-year conflict.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine, initiated on February 24, 2022, has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of deaths and widespread damage.
(ał)
Source: Reuters, PAP, IAR