Pope Francis called for peaceful negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in his Christmas message Urbi et Orbi.
The pontiff's statement is quoted by Reuters.
Pastor, not a politician: what statements Pope Francis made about the war in UkraineWhat Pope Francis said about Russia's war against Ukraine, whether he condemned Putin – in the infographic.Francis directly referenced the conflict in Ukraine and called for “the courage necessary to open the door for negotiations.”
“May the sound of arms fall silent in war-torn Ukraine,” the Pope stated, urging for “gestures of dialogue and encounter to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
He also expressed that the coming year should be a time for “every person, all peoples and nations... to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of weapons and overcome differences.”
Recall that on October 11, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. One of the main topics of discussion was the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity — Ukraine is counting on the assistance of the Holy See.
It was also reported that Pope Francis described Ukrainians and Russians as “brothers” and called for “mutual understanding.”
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