Pope’s appeal to Putin and Zelensky to end the ‘terrible’ war in Ukraine

The pontiff dedicated the reflection prior to the Marian prayer to the evolution of the conflict and the fears of a nuclear escalation. Moscow must stop the war and kyiv open itself to “serious peace proposals”. The memory of the thousands of victims, including children. “Agreed, fair and stable” solutions. He expressed his closeness to the typhoon victims in Cuba and Florida and at the Indonesian soccer stadium.

Vatican City () – The course of the war in Ukraine is “so serious and devastating” that it arouses “great concern” about a possible nuclear – and global – evolution of the conflict. Pope Francis made an appeal, never more heartfelt and profound, for an end to the conflict initiated by Russia in Ukraine. The pontiff addressed, without directly naming them, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to close a “terrible and inconceivable” wound of humanity, which “bleeds more and more” and runs the risk to “enlarge”.

Today’s atypical Angelus testifies to the real escalation that is taking place at the gates of Europe and risks dragging the entire world into an atomic conflict with devastating consequences. The reflection prior to the Marian prayer did not focus on the readings, as usual, but instead analyzed in depth the terrible consequences of Moscow’s war against kyiv. That decision has very little precedent, such as in September 2013, during the early stages of the war in Syria. That is why he decided to address direct and forceful words to the two leaders and to the international community, in a situation that never before, not even at the time of the Cuban missile crisis, was so close to a nuclear conflict. At the same time he condemned the annexations that threaten to distort the map and geography of the country, as well as the rights of minorities, adding to the pain of thousands of victims, in particular children”.

“I am grieved by the rivers of blood and tears shed in recent months. I am saddened by the thousands of victims, especially children, and the numerous destructions, which have left many people and families homeless and threaten vast territories with cold and hunger. Certain actions can never, ever be justified! It is distressing that the world is learning the geography of Ukraine through names like Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Izium, Zaporizhia and other cities, which have become places of unspeakable suffering and fear. And what about the fact that humanity is once again facing the atomic threat? It’s stupid.”.

The pontiff then wondered “How much blood must still be shed for us to understand that war is never a solution, but only destruction? In the name of God and in the name of the sense of humanity that dwells in every heart, I renew my call for immediately reach a ceasefire. Let the weapons fall silent and seek the conditions to begin negotiations capable of leading to solutions not imposed by force, but consensual, fair and stable. And they will be such if they are based on respect for the sacrosanct value of human life, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, as well as the rights of minorities and their legitimate concerns”.

Francis then recalled the fear of a “nuclear escalation” that could have “uncontrollable and catastrophic consequences worldwide.” He then addressed “the President of the Russian Federation, begging him to stop, also out of love for his people, this spiral of violence and death.” To the leader of a “people who suffer from “immense suffering” like the Ukrainian who is the victim of “aggressions” he addresses “an equally confident appeal” to be “open to serious proposals for peace”. “To all the protagonists of the international life and to the political leaders of the nations – the Pope said broadening the horizon of his appeal – I insistently ask you to do everything in your power to put an end to the ongoing war, without allowing yourself to be dragged into dangerous escalations, and that promote and support dialogue initiatives. Please, let’s make it possible for the young generations to breathe the healthy air of peace, not the polluted air of war, which is crazy!” At the end, the pontiff urged that “After seven months of hostilities, all diplomatic tools be used, including those that have not been used so far, to put an end to this terrible tragedy. War itself is a mistake and a horror!”

After his long reflection on the war in Ukraine and reciting the Marian prayer, the Pope expressed his closeness to the populations of Cuba and Florida who have suffered the passage of Hurricane Ian. “And I also pray – he said – for those who lost their lives and were injured in the clashes that occurred after a football match in Malang, Indonesia”, referring to the acts of violence in the Kanjuruhan stadium (East Java). , in which more than 180 people died and nearly 200 were injured.