Pope Francis plans visit to Ukraine: “It’s on the table” | International

Pope Francis and the Vatican have been trying for weeks to intervene diplomatically in conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Their actions, which have manifested themselves at all levels, have so far failed. But on March 22, the pontiff received an invitation from the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to travel to Ukraine. The invitation was offered during a phone call between the pair.

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, also invited the Pope to visit. Until now, Francis had said nothing about it. But during a flight on Saturday to Malta, where he will stay for two days, he answered questions from journalists about a possible visit to the war-torn country. “Yes, it is on the table,” replied the pope.

The Vatican took great care not to cut its diplomatic bridges with Moscow, as they were already badly damaged. The language has so far been very ambiguous. Pope Francis did not use the words “Russia” or “Putin” to refer to war. The Holy See has sent several representatives to the region: papal chaplain Konrad Krajewski, who is Polish, and Michael Czerny, a Canadian cardinal of Czechoslovak origin.

The main sticking point, however, is the different views of the conflict between the Vatican and the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, Bishop Kirill. The latter was much more belligerent, even justifying the invasion on religious and moral grounds, which caused much unease in Rome.

On March 17, however, positions began to converge and an important avenue of dialogue was opened between the two churches, which have a complicated relationship – especially since Kirill deepened his tendency to become the spiritual branch of politics. expansionist and warlike Russian President Vladimir Putin. The remote meeting between the two spiritual leaders that day could have paved the way for a trip to kyiv. However, it would be a difficult step to take if it were not accompanied by the same gesture on the part of Kirill.

Ice currents of war

Upon his arrival in Malta, Francisco continued to discuss the matter in his maiden speech, referring to the “icy” currents of war that have arrived from the east in recent days. In particular, he seemed to point directly at the Russian president for the first time. He still hasn’t gone so far as to name him, as he has avoided doing in recent months.

The conflict, Francisco said, had been simmering for years, and here he blamed it. “Yes, there have been preparations for war for a long time, with significant investments and arms sales,” he said. “And it is sad to see how the enthusiasm for peace, born after the Second World War, has waned in recent decades, as well as the path of the international community, with the powerful few advancing for their own account, in search of spaces and areas of influence. And in this way, not only peace, but also so many other major issues, such as the fight against hunger and inequalities, have been erased from the main political agendas,” he said.