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Pope Francis in Rome: Request to Putin "to stop this spiral of violence and death, also for the good of his people"
Photo: IMAGO/Massimo Valicchia / IMAGO/NurPhoto
The Pope usually devotes the speech before the traditional Angelus prayer to his area of expertise: the Christian gospel.
In view of the war in Ukraine, he instead formulated an exceptionally urgent appeal to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensy.
"I am deeply saddened by the torrents of blood and tears that have been shed these months," Pope Francis said in Rome.
He is saddened by the thousands of victims, especially children, and the numerous destruction that has left many people and families homeless and threatens large areas with cold and hunger.
»Such actions can never be justified, never!«.
Only on Friday did Russia's president announce the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions, thereby further exacerbating the conflict.
The Pope agreed too.
"I deeply regret the serious situation that has arisen in the past few days, with further actions contrary to the principles of international law," Pope Francis said.
Ukraine applied for accelerated NATO membership in response to the annexation;
on Saturday Ukrainian troops scored a success in capturing the strategically important town of Lyman.
nuclear war?
"That's absurd!"
The pope addressed Putin indirectly – and appealed to him.
He asks the President of the Russian Federation "to stop this spiral of violence and death, also for the good of his people," Francis said.
On the other hand, he also appealed "confidently to the President of Ukraine to be open to serious peace proposals."
Pope Francis told the faithful in St. Peter's Square: "It is unfortunate that the world learns about the geography of Ukraine through names like Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Izyum, Zaporizhia and other places that have become places of indescribable suffering and fear." He was shocked that the world had to fear nuclear war again.
"This is absurd!" he said.
»The war itself is a mistake and a horror!«
rai/dpa