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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ comment that Ukraine should have the “courage of the white flag”and engage in negotiation to end its war with Russia was dismissed by the Ukrainian government and church leaders.
In an interview with the Swiss broadcaster RSI, the pope had said the stronger side in the war in Ukraine “is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates.”
Elsewhere in the interview, released in part March 9, the pope specified that “negotiation is never a surrender.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clearly alluded to the pope’s comments in his nightly video address March 10 but made no explicit reference to Pope Francis.
Zelenskyy, speaking in Ukrainian in a video with English subtitles, thanked Ukrainian military chaplains on the frontline for supporting the troops “with prayer, conversation and deeds.”
“This is what the church is — it is together with people, not two and a half thousand kilometers away somewhere virtually mediating between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you,” he said.
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
In an interview with the Swiss broadcaster RSI, the pope had said the stronger side in the war in Ukraine “is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates.”
Elsewhere in the interview, released in part March 9, the pope specified that “negotiation is never a surrender.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clearly alluded to the pope’s comments in his nightly video address March 10 but made no explicit reference to Pope Francis.
Zelenskyy, speaking in Ukrainian in a video with English subtitles, thanked Ukrainian military chaplains on the frontline for supporting the troops “with prayer, conversation and deeds.”
“This is what the church is — it is together with people, not two and a half thousand kilometers away somewhere virtually mediating between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you,” he said.
Continued below.
Zelenskyy and Ukrainian church leaders reject pope's call for negotiations
Reactions to Pope Francis' "white flag" comment arrive from diplomatic and church sources.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
