Alexander Avdeev, the Russian Ambassador to the Vatican, emphasized that the unity and harmony of the multinational Russian people cannot be shaken. His remarks were carried by RIA Novosti. He stated that he lodged a strong protest with the Vatican’s diplomatic service following Pope Francis’s comments about alleged persecution of Buryat and Chechen service members by the Russian Armed Forces. Avdeev also criticized the implications of the pope’s statements.
In an interview with the Christian magazine America, Pope Francis referred to the situation during Russia’s military operation in Ukraine as involving brutal acts. He spoke of Russians who did not conform to a specific tradition—names such as Chechens and Buryats were mentioned in the context of alleged involvement in atrocities. Francis said he speaks of Ukraine and its martyrs, and if there are martyrs, there are torturers. He noted that the Russian state has invaded, and while he sometimes finds it prudent not to name individuals, he condemns the broader atrocities without specifically identifying anyone. He also mentioned his openness to discussing prisoner exchanges and his readiness to visit both Kiev and Moscow, with the Vatican’s foreign service head indicating a willingness to facilitate talks and to consider space for negotiations. Francis has also repeatedly invited the presidents of Russia and Ukraine to peace discussions.
reaction in Russia
The pope’s remarks about Chechens and Buryats sparked a strong backlash among Russian authorities and church leadership. Magomed Daudov, spokesman for the Chechen parliament, asserted that Chechen and Buryat security forces had not committed any war crimes. He suggested that listening to residents of liberated areas would reveal that Chechen fighters, along with Buryats and many other peoples of the Russian Federation, are viewed as protectors by the local population.
The Buddhist community leader Pandito Khambo Lama Damba Ayusheev, who is of Buryat origin, criticized Francis for what he described as harsh words about their people. He argued that Western observers underestimate how life in Siberia and the Far East shapes resilience and patience, and he asserted that their people defend their homeland with courage, much like previous generations did against fascism.
The discussion drew reactions from the Russian Orthodox Church as well. An exarch of the African Patriarch spoke critically, suggesting that the West, including the Roman Catholic Church, has moved away from moral benchmarks. He called for clarification from the papal court regarding what was misunderstood on social media and in translations, noting concerns over potential misinterpretations of Francis’s words about Buryats and Chechens.
Buryatia’s president, Alexei Tsydenov, condemned what he called the moral failures of what he termed civilized nations, pointing to historic crimes such as the American genocide of Indigenous peoples, the Crusades, and NATO bombings of Belgrade and Tripoli. He insisted that Buryats, Chechens, and other peoples of the Russian Federation did not participate in these transgressions and praised their defense of the homeland as rightful.
Tsydenov also commented on the pope’s assessment of certain nationalities, arguing that if soldiers from these groups are identified in operations, it should be taken as evidence of their effectiveness in protecting civilians. He expressed pride in the actions of these communities and invoked religious solidarity in supporting their cause.
In America magazine, Pope Francis reiterated his willingness to visit Kiev if a visit to Moscow were also arranged and noted that he has repeatedly provided lists of Ukrainian prisoners of war to Russian authorities, with responses indicating a prisoner exchange could be possible. Reports from TASS, citing Vatican sources, suggested that the papacy valued its relations with Russia and hoped for improvements, while noting that the Curia would monitor translations of Francis’s remarks to avoid offense and would verify accuracy.
Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, described Francis’s statements as heresy, stating that the rhetoric undermines truth and recalling past narratives about Russians and Slavs in relation to Caucasian peoples. The remarks of Federation Council Vice-President Konstantin Kosachev were also criticized as inappropriate in form and content, with calls for a clearer explanation from the papal court. He warned against drawing divisions among different peoples and faiths, suggesting that such statements fail to contribute to peacekeeping efforts.