Ohhhh! what confusion!
The words of the Pope, who spoke of the “white flag” that Ukrainians should wave to achieve a ceasefire from the Russians,
have unleashed a difficult crisis
for the Vatican.
Francisco already clarified that he was referring not to a surrender but to ending the fighting and beginning to negotiate.
The Ukrainians are very angry and responded that they will “never” raise any flag other than that of their country in an angry protest before the diplomatic envoy of the Holy See in kyiv.
German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz said that “I do not agree with the Pope,”
fueling the diplomatic crisis.
The Swiss television
interview
with the Pope broadcast by the Vatican
is at the origin of the confusion
, which has an unusual element:
the color white
.
The dialogue will be broadcast on Wednesday the 20th. Why are you waiting so long?
The Vatican decided not to wait any longer and
distribute the text of
Francis' dialogue with Lorenzo Bucella for the cultural program “Cliché”, which that day will be dedicated to what?:
well, to the color white.
Presented by Swiss TV as “the
color of good and light
but on which errors and dirt stand out,” white is the theme that, mixed with the difficult international situation, Bucella insists on presenting to the Pope.
Reading the entire interview, one notices that
the Pope's stumble
that has unleashed an enormous international problem comes from... the color white.
The Pope in white, among cardinals.
Photo: Reuters
In the second question, the journalist asks Francis what he thinks about the following:
"In Ukraine there are those who ask for the courage to surrender, the white flag. But others say that this would legitimize the strongest."
Ignoring that the journalist
introduced the inconvenient issue of the color white as an entry,
the Pope responds: “That is an interpretation.
But I believe that the stronger is the one who sees the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag to negotiate.
And today it can be negotiated with the help of international powers.
The word negotiate is a courageous word.
When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, have the courage to negotiate.
And you are ashamed, but if you continue like this, how many dead!
And it will end even worse.
Negotiate with time, look for a country that acts as a mediator
.
Today there are many in the Ukrainian war who offer their mediation.
Türkiye for example.
"There is no shame in negotiating before things get worse."
The Swiss journalist insists on the color white.
The Pope says that if it is necessary to negotiate “here I am, period.
The interviewer retorts that “he is the target of anger.”
Francisco responds "It's okay, it's the target of courage."
The Swiss journalist reminds him of that night in St. Peter's Square, during the pandemic, when he walked alone on a rainy evening.
“You were a white spot in the middle of the darkness.”
Throughout the rest of the interviews, the questions continue in which the Swiss Lorenzo Bucella
continually inserts the color white into the questions
.
He even asks him what the main value of white is for the Church.
Francisco responds that the Church uses white vestments on Easter Sunday and Christmas.
"White also has a meaning of
joy, of peace, of beautiful things."
In response to another question, the Argentine pontiff explains that it was a Pope of the Dominican order, whose habit is white, Pius V, who kept the habit during his reign.
“
That's where the tradition of Popes wearing white comes from.”
The Pope recites a tango
The rest of the interview is dominated by questions and answers about the color white and its meaning.
One has
a clear Argentine flavor
.
After stating that “white has a strong color, it is not weak,” the Pope surprises the Swiss interviewer.
“There is a tango that reproaches a woman who marries in white after having lived a life that is not good.
The tango says:
This scandal, lady, dressing in white after she has sinned
.
What is popular wisdom... White means a pure soul, with good intentions, it is thought that Baptism, First Communion are symbols that say so much."
The number two of the Vatican, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, stated this Tuesday in an interview with the “Corriere della Sera”, that Pope Francis' call “for a diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace, does not refer
as "It is obvious only to Kiev
but to both parties and the first condition for this
is to put an end to the aggression initiated by Russia
."
The Holy See “calls for a ceasefire, something the aggressors should do first;
and then the opening of negotiations.”