In an unusual interview, Pope Francis fuels hopes that he might engage in diplomatic mediation efforts over Ukraine, writes DW’s Christoph Strack.
Pope Francis did not mince words. He named Russian President Vladimir Putin as responsible for the Russian aggression in Ukraine. He compared the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians to the genocide in Rwanda, and showed contempt for the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow, defying conventions of respect
Finally.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the head of the Catholic Church has repeatedly expressed his empathy for the suffering of the Ukrainian people, while remaining silent about the cause of their suffering. As if a force of nature had swept over their country. Perhaps the most spectacular move was his ride in a small car, with little fanfare, to make a personal visit to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See. He said that he wanted to make a “clear gesture for the whole world to see.”
‘How many divisions does the pope have?’
But now Francis has put an end to weeks of diplomatic speeches that refrained from blaming anyone. He granted an interview to the leading Italian daily Corriere della Sera. However, it was published in the form of a regular article, not as a standard interview. Given the topic, this is somewhat surprising.
“How many divisions does the Pope have?” is a question attributed to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin — he is said to have used these words in 1945, in the final phase of the Second World War, to make clear his contempt for the spiritual leader with regard to his role as an ally of the Allies. Wars, Stalin said, are fought “with soldiers, cannons and tanks.”
Opinion: Pope Francis clearly points the finger at Russia (msn.com)