Pope Francis has described the conflict in Ukraine as a “world war” and expressed confidence that it will not end anytime soon.
“I don’t see the end of the conflict in the short term, because this is a world war… Many parties have already been involved in the war. It is global in nature, ”he said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper. A B C.
The Pope stated that the different parties in the conflict “have many interests”. Military conflict, he argues, occurs “when the empire begins to weaken”, when there are “weapons that can be used, tested and sold” and “a lot is at stake”.
The interviewer recalled, in a conversation with Pope Francis, that the pope “was opposed to the war in Ukraine more than a hundred times.”
“We do our best. They don’t listen. What is happening in Ukraine is terrible. There is great persecution. This is really serious. And that’s what I always condemn,” said the Pope.
He also noted that he acts as an intermediary and tries to accept everyone regardless of criticism leveled at him.
“Now [президент Украины] “For the third time, Volodymyr Zelensky is sending one of his religious advisers to me,” Francis said. “I keep in touch, I agree, I help.”
On the role of the church
According to the Pope, the church’s job is to “accompany the people,” but at the same time, the clergy cannot be politicians.
“It is wrong for a priest to enter politics. He should help people make the right choice, but not be a politician. If he wants to get into politics, let him give up his dignity, ”says Francis.
He also expressed the view that “the Church cannot make propaganda in favor of any of the parties, but will accompany them until the people themselves make a decision.”
According to the Pope, the Vatican “always seeks to save what can be saved through diplomatic relations and tolerant dialogue.”
The Pope also shared that he had previously signed a document in which he pledged that he would resign from the presidency of the Catholic Church if his health deteriorated.
“A Little Peace” for Christmas
Earlier, the head of the Catholic Church said he wanted to receive “some peace” as a gift for Christmas.
“A little peace. How many wars are there in the world! The conflict in Ukraine at the moment worries us the most. But let’s remember Myanmar, Yemen, Syria, where they have been fighting for 13 years,” he said.
He also called for “slightly lowering the level of Christmas spending” and a modest celebration of the holidays and the money raised to help affected Ukrainians be sent to the fund.
The Pope has repeatedly tried to mediate in the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict and urged the parties to peace. In particular, on November 27, the Vatican confirmed its readiness to host negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
Also, as it became known in November, Francis is involved in the prisoner swap from the Russian and Ukrainian sides. The Russian Ambassador to the Vatican, Alexander Avdeev, said that the release or exchange of Ukrainian prisoners by Moscow was made taking into account the lists regularly provided by the Pope of Rome.
In October, the Pope urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop this spiral of violence and death, including for the good of his own people,” and asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “be open to serious offers of peace.”