War in Ukraine: Russia closes the doors to Vatican mediation

From Russia they were delivered this Tuesday Opening words towards the prospect of the Pope’s mediation in the war in Ukraine. Alexey Parmonov, an official of the European Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow, said that “we maintain an open and confidential dialogue on a series of issues, mainly related to the humanitarian situation “.

Parmonov stated that “the Vatican leaders (referring to the Pope and the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin), have repeatedly declared their availability, providing every possible assistance to put an end to hostilities“.

“These claims are confirmed in practice,” the official added.

Paramanov added that “all the initiatives of the Holy See and Pope Francis that can lead to peace in Europe are perceived with great respect and, of course,may be requested if appropriate budgets are presented“.

In the Roman Curia it was highlighted that “for now” the reserved channels of dialogue are concentrated the “areas of care”.

On the part of the Holy See, dialogue through reserved channels is led by the Secretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagherthe Pope’s “foreign minister”, of English nationality.

Monsignor Gallagher recently admitted that “the Pope could still continue to fulfill a very significant role in this conflict and its solution “.

“There are spaces”, added Francisco’s “Foreign Minister”, who recalled that Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski “said that in the face of a war that continues, in the end they must sit at the negotiating table and resolve the conflict through diplomatic and political dialogue “.

Charges against Russia

Dad has launched multiple accusations against Russia for his actions in Ukraine, declaring that his troops “are brutal, cruel and ferocious”, while praising the “brave Ukrainians who are fighting for their survival.

But according to some Vatican sources, “The tones have changed.”

He was released on Monday the content of a long meeting on May 27 Jorge Bergoglio with ten European Jesuit media directors.

The third World War

The Pope recalled: «A few years ago it occurred to me to say that we were living a third world war“.

“Now for me the third world war has been declared”, added the Argentine Pope who asked himself: “What is happening to humanity that has had three world wars in a century?”

So, and answering questions about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and how it can contribute to peace, Francis said we must move away from the normal belief “that Little Red Riding Hood was good and the Bad Wolf“.

“Something global is emerging with strongly intertwined elements“, He adds.

The Pope invited move away from the drastic image of “good guys and bad guys”.

In this regard, he cited the memory of an interview he had with a head of state, before the war, who visited him in the Vatican and who expressed his concern “about how NATO is moving”, the military alliance Atlantic of 30 western countries, 14 of which had belonged to the Soviet-era military Warsaw Pact controlled by the USSR.

“I asked him what he meant and he said: bark at the gates of Russia“.

The head of state, whom the Pope defines as “wise”, told him that “this situation could lead to war”. Indeed, he predicted the grave risk that Russia would respond to an invasionHow did it happen.

Francis told European Jesuit press officials that their reasoning takes into account the fact that many “do not see the drama that is unfolding behind this war, that perhaps somehow was provoked or not prevented”, An accusation made several times by the Russians against the American and European NATO allies in recent years.

The Pope said that some believe that with this thought he is in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “No I’m not. It is simplistic and wrong to say such a thing.. I am simply against reducing complexity to the distinction between good and evil, without thinking about the roots and interests, which are very complex “.

Francis expressed his admiration “for the heroism of the Ukrainian people” and underlined that “we have before our eyes a situation of world war, global interests, arms sales and geopolitical appropriation that is martyring a heroic people”.

Finally, the Pope warned of the risk that attention on the war in Ukraine will diminish over time. “What will happen when the enthusiasm to help fades? Because things are cooling down“.

Bergoglio finally said he hopes to meet Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in September, when he will participate in part of his planned trip to Kazakhstan. The relationships between the two They are going through a period of crisis. after the Pope said in statements against Kirill’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine that the patriarch was behaving like a Putin’s altar boy.

Due to the ailment in his right knee that forces him to use a wheelchair, the Pope has postponed three scheduled trips to Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. An apostolic trip to Canada is planned for the end of July and a trip to Kazakhstan in September. Neither has been postponed, a term the Pope prefers as a commitment to undertake these tours when he gets over the acute phase of his knee ailment.

Vatican correspondent

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