“
A victory built on ruins will never be a real victory
”.
Pope Francis on Wednesday February 22 launched a new call for peace in Ukraine, condemning an "
absurd and cruel
" war two days before the first anniversary of the invasion of the country.
“
February 24 will mark the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, a year of senseless and cruel war.
A sad anniversary
,” the Argentinian Jesuit said after his weekly general audience at the Vatican.
Call for “peace negotiations”
“
I appeal to all those who have authority over nations to make a concrete commitment to end the conflict, to reach a ceasefire and to begin peace negotiations,” added the pope
of 86 years.
"
The death toll, the wounded, the refugees, the economic and social damage speaks for itself
", added Jorge Bergoglio, who has multiplied calls for peace for a year, while trying to maintain a dialogue with Moscow. .
Read alsoPope Francis has Ukraine “in his heart”, but the belligerents no longer listen to him
“
Will the Lord be able to forgive so much crime and violence?
(…) Let us remain close to the martyred Ukrainian people who continue to suffer, and ask ourselves if everything has been done to stop the war
”, he further declared.
Despite proposals for mediation, the diplomacy of the Holy See has not managed to impose itself on the conflict in Ukraine.
The pope had himself considered going to kyiv and Moscow, a project that has so far not seen the light of day.