Pope Francis described this Sunday the war in Ukraine as “a tragic situation” and confessed not knowing what is possible in a “difficult dialogue” with the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.
In the interview with TVI/CNN Portugal, the Pope was asked what can be said to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, to which he replied: “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
“I think that, if we dialogue, we can always get there. Do you know who doesn’t know how to dialogue? Animals. They are pure instinct. On the other hand, dialogue is putting instinct aside and listening. Dialogue is difficult.” , said the Pope in the first part of the interview broadcast today, the rest will be broadcast on Monday
The Catholic Church leader said he still does not know when he will visit kyiv and Moscow, but said three cardinals who are his representatives have already been to the Ukrainian capital.
“One of them went three times and spent the entire Holy Week, and he was the Undersecretary of State, in charge of international relations. my presence there [Kiev] is strong. Now I can’t go, because after the trip to Canada, the recovery of the knee suffered a bit and the doctor forbade me to go”, he said.
Francis stressed that he has been in telephone communication with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively.
“I do what I can. And I ask everyone to do what they can. Something can be done between everyone. But the situation is really tragic,” he stressed.
On February 24, Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine that caused the flight of more than eight million people, of whom more than 6.6 million were outside the country, according to UN estimates.
The Russian invasion was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and tightening economic and political sanctions on Moscow.
Source: TSF
