Many in Ukraine have long had the impression that the Pope is more favorable to Russia. With an appeal for discussions, Francis is now strengthening such assumptions. The Vatican sees it differently.
With a misleading appeal for peace negotiations in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Pope Francis has sparked massive opposition. The statements by the head of the Catholic Church were understood in Ukraine and by many of her supporters as a one-sided appeal to Kiev alone – and by some even as a call for surrender.
In an interview published on Swiss television at the weekend, the 87-year-old also used the word about the “white flag” – in times of war for centuries, the sign of surrender, i.e. surrender without a fight against the enemy troops, with a view to the difficulties faced by the Ukrainian army.
“When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate,” said Francis in the interview, which was conducted at the beginning of February but has only now become known. Without naming either of the parties to the conflict, Russia or Ukraine, he added: “Don’t be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse.” Nevertheless, this was often understood as a reference, especially to Ukraine. Elsewhere in the interview, the leader of more than 1.4 billion Catholics said: “Negotiations are never a surrender.”
A misunderstanding?
Pope spokesman Matteo Bruni contradicted reports that the pontiff had called on Ukraine to surrender. Francis himself did not address the controversy in his Sunday prayers in St. Peter’s Square. He called for general prayers for peace in “tormented Ukraine” and the Holy Land. He added: “End hostilities that are causing untold suffering among civilians.” However, from the Argentine-born’s earlier statements, Ukrainians have the feeling that Francis has more understanding for Russia than for them.
His answer to the question of whether it sometimes takes courage to raise the white flag was met with incomprehension – the wording came from the interviewer. The Pope replied: “It is a question of perspective. But I think that the stronger is the one who recognizes the situation, who thinks about the people, who has the courage of the white flag to negotiate.” The conversation was recorded for a cultural program that basically deals with the color white – including, for example, why the Pope wears white. It is scheduled to air on March 20th.
“It seems strange that the Pope does not call for the defense of Ukraine, does not condemn Russia as an aggressor that is killing tens of thousands of people,” wrote former Ukrainian MP and Deputy Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko on the X network (formerly Twitter). “Ukraine is exhausted, but it stands and will stand! Believe me, no one is thinking of giving up,” said the head of the Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav. This so-called United Church is strong in western Ukraine. Its liturgy is Orthodox, but it recognizes the Pope as its head.
“Our flag is yellow and blue. This is the flag with which we live, die and persevere. We will never raise another flag,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X. He thanked the Pope for his prayers in the two years of war and invited him to visit Ukraine.
Criticism from Poland and Germany
In Poland, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized the call. “To compensate, how about encouraging (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine? Then peace would come immediately, without the need for negotiations,” Sikorski wrote on X. Poland is one of Ukraine’s most committed political and military supporters.
In Germany, Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt contradicted the Pope. “Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine,” said the Green politician to the Editorial Network Germany (RND). Putin can end war and suffering immediately – not Ukraine. “Anyone who demands that Ukraine simply surrender is giving the aggressor what he has illegally taken and thereby accepting the annihilation of Ukraine.” The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann called on the Pope to condemn the “verbal murderous incitement” of the Orthodox Moscow Patriarch Kirill against the Ukrainians. “As a Catholic, I’m ashamed that he doesn’t do that.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
