Pope Francis on Sunday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the “spiral of violence and death” in the war in Ukraine and warned of the risk of a nuclear “escalation” with global consequences.
“My objection is first of all addressed to the President of the Russian Federation. [Vladimir Putin]I ask him, out of his love for his people, to stop this spiral of violence and death”, asked the Pope from the window of the papal chamber during the Angelus prayer.
Before thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the leader of the Catholic Church made an unprecedented statement, dedicating his message directly to Kyiv and Moscow. It often reflects the war in ritual.
“The course of the war in Ukraine has become so serious, devastating and threatening that it raises great concerns,” he said.
According to Francis, it is “absurd” that humanity is once again faced with the “atomic threat”. “How much more blood must be shed before we realize that war is never a solution, but only destruction?” she asked.
“In the name of God, in the name of humanity living in every heart, I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire, silencing of arms, and that the terms of negotiation are capable of leading to a solution. It was imposed by force, but agreed upon, just, stable,” he added.
According to Argentina, measures are needed that respect “the value of life, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, as well as the rights of minorities and legitimate concerns”.
Francis also urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be “open” to serious peace proposals.
“On the other hand, regretting the tremendous suffering experienced by the Ukrainian people after the attack, I make an equally hopeful appeal to the President of Ukraine to be open to serious peace offers,” he said.
Jorge Bergoglio appealed to international community officials and political leaders, urging them to resort to “all diplomatic means”, including those that have not yet been used, to end this “great tragedy”.
“Do everything you can to end the ongoing war without engaging in dangerous escalations, encouraging and supporting dialogue initiatives,” he said.
“Please let the new generations breathe the holy air of peace, which is madness, not the polluted air of war,” he said, describing the war as “a mistake and a horror.”
Finally, the Holy Father “deeply regrets the serious situation that has arisen in recent days, with new acts contrary to the principles of international law”. “In fact, this raises the risk of a nuclear escalation, with fears of uncontrollable and disastrous consequences at the world level,” he said, implicitly referring to recent referendums in Russian-annexed Ukrainian territories.
source: Noticias
