Marcin Wyrwał: Moscow's stigma cannot be wiped out of the pontificate of the Pope
The first strong and then the little -expected statement of Pope Francis in this matter fell on March 25, 2022, barely a month after Russia's full -scale aggression against Ukraine. It was “entrusting humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine, the Immaculate Heart of Mary” during a penitential service in the Vatican. It was the first time the Pope openly compared the victims to their executioners.
The idea shook the Western world even more that on April 15, 2022, during the night Way of the Cross outside the Roman Colosseum The cross was held by two families – Ukrainian and Russian. Despite many protest voices, the Pope did not give up this idea. Eager families could not be found, while the cross was carried by two nursing students – Russian and Ukrainian – from the Roman Medical University.
When in November 2022 with the help of Western support Ukraine managed to conduct a counteroffensive and reflect some of the territories occupied by Moscow, the Pope said that The war was provoked by NATO “barking at the door of Russia”.
When in January 2023 the Ukrainians defended the city of Bachmut in bloody fights, the pope leaned over “Ukrainian mothers and Russian mothers, both. They lost their sons” – he said then, once a second time comparing the victims to their torturers.
At the end of August 2023, Pope Francis conducted a video conference with Russian Catholic youth in the Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria in St. Petersburg, during which he turned to her in the following words: “Never forget about your heritage. You are descendants of great Russia, saints, rulers, great Russia Piotr I and Katarzyna II, this empire. ” These words were outrageous for many nations bordering with Russia (or remaining within its will) of nations – for them centuries -old Russian imperial policy, was and is an endless torment and prison.
When in March 2024 the Ukrainian front barely stayed as a result of blocking in the American Congress of Multi -billion military assistance, the Pope stated that “Ukraine must have the courage to build a white flag and negotiate.”
A few hours after that statement, President Zełnski answered in one of his video speeches to the Ukrainian nation: “Only thanks to the Ukrainians who stand with arms in hand and under the blue-yellow flag, Russian murderers cannot go further into Europe.”
Why did the Pope do it?
There are many explanations regarding this and not another attitude of Pope Francis. Many experts pay attention to the fact that A large part of the South American church is traditionally anti -American, which in a great simplified coincide with pro -Russian tendencies. If so, from the head of the Catholic Church, supported by Vatican diplomacy, a more numerous approach to the region so important for Catholicism, which is Central and Eastern Europe, is required.
There are also those who pay attention to The great potential of Russia for the Catholic Church, which the Pope must take into account. If so, it's hard not to notice extreme cynicism in this attitude.
Among the statements and attitudes of Pope Francis are also those that expressed Solidarity only with Ukrainian victims. However, there were not enough of them, nor were they strong enough in their pronunciation to overshadow these favorable Russia. The pontificate of Pope Francis cannot be wiped out of the Moscow stigma.
