Pope Francis on Sunday addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin asking him to stop the “spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine, expressing concern about the risk of a nuclear escalation.
“My appeal is addressed above all to the President of the Russian Federation, imploring him to stop, also out of love for his people, this spiral of violence and death,” Francis said at the Angelus celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica. publicly to Putin for the first time, without mentioning his name.
Francis also urged the world to use “diplomatic instruments” to end this “serious, devastating and threatening conflict”, and encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “be open to serious peace proposals”.
The Pope, who was speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, also referred to the “profound pain” caused by the “rivers of blood and tears experienced in these months, the thousands of victims, mainly children, and the numerous destructions that have left “. many homeless people and families and threaten vast territories with cold and hunger”.
In addition, he questioned the fact that humanity is again “facing the atomic threat”, which he described as “absurd”.
The Pope called for an “immediate ceasefire” to be reached and for “weapons to be silenced and conditions sought to begin negotiations capable of leading to solutions not imposed by force, but consensual, fair and stable.”
These, he stressed, “must be based on respect for the sacrosanct value of human life, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, as well as the rights of minorities and their legitimate concerns.”
Francis also lamented “the serious situation created in recent days with new actions contrary to the principles of international law,” referring to the Russian annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which the Pope did not name.
These actions “increase the risk of a nuclear escalation to the point where we fear uncontrollable and catastrophic consequences throughout the world,” he said.
The Pope’s appeal, in addition to being addressed to Putin and Zelensky, was also addressed to “all the protagonists of international life” to “do everything possible to put an end to the ongoing war” so as not to be dragged into “dangerous escalations ” and “promote and support” dialogue initiatives.
“Please, let the new generations breathe the healthy air of peace, not the polluted air of war, which is crazy. After seven months of hostilities, let all diplomatic instruments be used, including those that were ultimately not used, to put an end to this enormous tragedy,” he stressed.
Francis has always shown concern about the war in Ukraine, even considering a trip to this country, and now he has decided to dedicate the Angelus to reflect on this problem, something that rarely happens, the last time being in 2013 to ask for peace in Ukraine Syria.
Source: TSF
