Pope Francis is pictured during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 4, 2022. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
There’s been a bit of chatter about Pope Francis’s most recent interview in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera newspaper, but not as much as he or the folks at the Corriere probably wish there were. To be perfectly frank, that’s probably for the best. There’s a good bit in it that could damage the Holy See – especially the Holy See’s diplomatic credibility – and a lot in it that could damage the Holy Father personally.
Take, for example, his insistence on going to Moscow before Kyiv, even though Kyiv is the seat of an autocephalous Catholic Church and Russian President Vladimir Putin is the aggressor in a war that has seen Russian forces invade Ukraine: “To Kyiv, for now, I am not going,” he said. “I sent Cardinal Michael Czerny (late of the Section for Migrants in Pope Francis’s prototype superdicastery for human development, now prefect of the same) and [papal almoner] Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who has been there four times.”
For himself, Pope Francis says: “I feel I cannot go. I must first go to Moscow, I must first meet Putin.” He adds: “But, I’m [only] a priest, too, what can I do?” and then, almost plaintively, “If Putin would only open the door.”
That, coupled with his insistence that he is “too far away” from the situation in Ukraine and “do[esn’t] know how to answer the question whether the international community ought to be resupplying Ukraine,” was more than enough to raise eyebrows. The line that really garnered headlines, however, was the pope’s insistence that “NATO’s barking at Putin’s door” perhaps had something to do with the Russian leader’s decision to invade his neighbor.
That adds a tinge of bitter irony to Francis’s other oft-quoted line, to the effect that Russia’s Patriarch Kirill, who has been a vocal supporter of Putin and Putin’s war in Ukraine, ought not “transform himself into Putin’s altar boy.” Leave aside that Kirill doesn’t have very far to go. Pope Francis’s insistence that senior Church leaders “not be clerics of state” is difficult to square with his copious praise of Italy’s top leaders. Former President Giorgio Napolitano is “a great man,” according to Francis. The pope said he “very much admires” incumbent Sergio Mattarella, too. Francis also verbally doffed his zucchetto to Italy’s pro-abortion paladin, Emma Bonino.
Pope Francis also wondered – aloud and very much on the record – whether Ukraine’s handling of Russian activity in the embattled Donbas region “almost ten years ago” may be somehow and in some measure to blame.
“It is unthinkable that one free state should attack another free state,” Pope Francis said. “In Ukraine, it was others who sought conflict,” he continued. “The only thing that can be imputed to the Ukrainians is that they had responded in the Donbas, but we’re talking about a decade ago,” he said. A decade ago or not, the Donbas is an integral part of Ukrainian territory and the Russians were actively supporting Russian separatists waging war there. If the Ukrainians were wrong to defend themselves then, well, what about now?
All that makes it hard to see how the Holy See is supposed to bill itself credibly as an honest broker in crisis situations anywhere, while – credit to Charles Collins for noting it on Twitter – heads of state and government may well think twice before sharing sensitive information, after Pope Francis appeared to divulge information he received in late April from Hungary’s president, Viktor Orbán, regarding Russia’s war plans and schedule.
For all his talk about listening to people on the margins, Pope Francis also shows a remarkable unwillingness to do just that. Explaining the recent contretemps over plans to have a Russian woman and a Ukrainian woman read a rather too even-handed prayer at the recent via Crucis on Good Friday – the organizers eventually decided to put the prayer in File 13 and have the women bear the Cross in silence — Pope Francis said:
[W]hen for the via Crucis there were two women, one Russian and the other Ukrainian, who had to read the prayer together, they [the Ukrainians] made it a scandal. So I called Krajewski who was there and he said to me: “Stop, don’t read the prayer. They are right, even if we don’t fully understand.
The Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, had said as much, but that was just the “proud” Ukrainians – Pope Francis’s word – making a stink, to hear him tell it. Pope Francis needed to hear it from his friend, Cardinal Krajewski. While we’re on the subject, it is worth mentioning that there is one thing Pope Francis could have done do to show support for the Ukrainian people and especially for Ukrainian Catholics: He could have sent Cardinal Krajewski with a red hat in his luggage for Archbishop Shevchuk. That would have been something.
The really bad thing about all this, is that there’s no spinning it. This is straight from the horse’s mouth, on the record, in the books. There’s no Scalfari to blame, no clarification to offer (or not), no ambiguity about a timeline or source material.
If Vatican beat journalists grouse a bit about the Corriere’s decision not to publish the interview as a straight Q&A, they’re well within the bounds of reason. Nevertheless, the Pope tends to say many words while finishing very few sentences. Getting pull quotes is not always a straightforward proposition. This time, one gets the impression that any attempt to clarify, revise, extend, or otherwise add to the pope’s remarks would only serve to keep the story alive – and that’s likely the very last thing anyone wants (Pope Francis possibly excepted).
If you want to gauge the damage Pope Francis’s interview has done, consider that it took much of the world a full 24 hours to notice it. This interview may be a slow burn, of the sort that smolders until it is an inexorable conflagration. More likely, it will crackle a bit and then quickly wane.
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Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI greets Colombian Cardinal Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal at the retired pope’s Vatican residence on Aug. 27, 2022. / Screenshot from EWTN video
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 27, 2022 / 12:55 pm (CNA).
Pope Francis joined 19 of the Church’s 20 newly installed cardinals Saturday in a visit with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at his Vatican residence.
Video and photos of the brief encounter provided by Vatican Media showed Pope Francis and the cardinals individually greeting the 95-year-old retired pope, who was seated in a chair. The cardinals received a blessing from both Francis and Benedict and joined them in singing the Salve Regina.
📹VIDEO | Pope Francis and the new cardinals just visited Benedict XVI. This beautiful meeting took place right after the consistory. Let’s keep praying for their intentions and health. pic.twitter.com/bQY5EB4wyj
Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 5, 2016. / Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 13, 2023 / 13:15 pm (CNA).
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as the 265th successor of St. Peter. Here is a timeline of key events during his papacy:
2013
March 13 — About two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI steps down from the papacy, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is elected pope. He takes the papal name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and proclaims from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Let us begin this journey, the bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another.”
March 14 — The day after he begins his pontificate, Pope Francis returns to his hotel to personally pay his hotel bill and collect his luggage.
July 8 — Pope Francis visits Italy’s island of Lampedusa and meets with a group of 50 migrants, most of whom are young men from Somalia and Eritrea. The island, which is about 200 miles off the coast of Tunisia, is a common entry point for migrants who flee parts of Africa and the Middle East to enter Europe. This is the pope’s first pastoral visit outside of Rome and sets the stage for making reaching out to the peripheries a significant focus.
Pope Francis gives the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 2, 2013. . Elise Harris/CNA.
July 23–28 — Pope Francis visits Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in World Youth Day 2013. More than 3 million people from around the world attend the event.
July 29 — On the return flight from Brazil, Pope Francis gives his first papal news conference and sparks controversy by saying “if a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” The phrase is prompted by a reporter asking the pope a question about priests who have homosexual attraction.
Nov. 24 — Pope Francis publishes his first apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). The document illustrates the pope’s vision for how to approach evangelization in the modern world.
2014
Feb. 22 — Pope Francis holds his first papal consistory to appoint 19 new cardinals, including ones from countries in the developing world that have never previously been represented in the College of Cardinals, such as Haiti.
March 22 — Pope Francis creates the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The commission works to protect the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults, such as the victims of sexual abuse.
Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his general audience on Nov. 29, 2014. Bohumil Petrik/CNA.
Oct. 5 — The Synod on the Family begins. The bishops discuss a variety of concerns, including single-parent homes, cohabitation, homosexual adoption of children, and interreligious marriages.
Dec. 6 — After facing some pushback for his efforts to reform the Roman Curia, Pope Francis discusses his opinion in an interview with La Nacion, an Argentine news outlet: “Resistance is now evident. And that is a good sign for me, getting the resistance out into the open, no stealthy mumbling when there is disagreement. It’s healthy to get things out into the open, it’s very healthy.”
2015
Jan. 18 — To conclude a trip to Asia, Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Manila, Philippines. Approximately 6 million to 7 million people attend the record-setting Mass, despite heavy rain.
March 23 — Pope Francis visits Naples, Italy, to show the Church’s commitment to helping the fight against corruption and organized crime in the city.
May 24 — To emphasize the Church’s mission to combat global warming and care for the environment, Pope Francis publishes the encyclical Laudato si’, which urges people to take care of the environment and encourages political action to address climate problems.
Pope Francis at a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on June 17, 2015. Bohumil Petrik.
Sept. 19–22 — Pope Francis visits Cuba and meets with Fidel Castro in the first papal visit to the country since Pope John Paul II in 1998. During his homily, Francis discusses the dignity of the human person: “Being a Christian entails promoting the dignity of our brothers and sisters, fighting for it, living for it.”
Sept. 22–27 — After departing from Cuba, Pope Francis makes his first papal visit to the United States. In Washington, D.C., he speaks to a joint session of Congress, in which he urges lawmakers to work toward promoting the common good, and canonizes the Franciscan missionary St. Junípero Serra. He also attends the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which focuses on celebrating the gift of the family.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis begins the second Synod on the Family to address issues within the modern family, such as single-parent homes, cohabitation, poverty, and abuse.
Oct. 18 — The pope canonizes St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azélie “Zelie” Guérin. The married couple were parents to five nuns, including St. Therese of Lisieux. They are the first married couple to be canonized together.
Dec. 8 — Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy begins. The year focuses on God’s mercy and forgiveness and people’s redemption from sin. The pope delegates certain priests in each diocese to be Missionaries of Mercy who have the authority to forgive sins that are usually reserved for the Holy See.
2016
March 19 — Pope Francis publishes the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia, which discusses a wide variety of issues facing the modern family based on discussions from the two synods on the family. The pope garners significant controversy from within the Church for comments he makes in Chapter 8 about Communion for the divorced and remarried.
April 16 — After visiting refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis allows three Muslim refugee families to join him on his flight back to Rome. He says the move was not a political statement.
Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Feb. 24, 2016. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
July 26–31 — Pope Francis visits Krakow, Poland, as part of the World Youth Day festivities. About 3 million young Catholic pilgrims from around the world attend.
Sept. 4 — The pope canonizes St. Teresa of Calcutta, who is also known as Mother Teresa. The saint, a nun from Albania, dedicated her life to missionary and charity work, primarily in India.
Sept. 30–Oct. 2 — Pope Francis visits Georgia and Azerbaijan on his 16th trip outside of Rome since the start of his papacy. His trip focuses on Catholic relations with Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to Amatrice, Italy, to pray for the victims of an earthquake in central Italy that killed nearly 300 people.
2017
May 12–13 — In another papal trip, Francis travels to Fatima, Portugal, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. May 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Marian apparition to three children in the city.
July 11 — Pope Francis adds another category of Christian life suitable for the consideration of sainthood: “offering of life.” The category is distinct from martyrdom, which only applies to someone who is killed for his or her faith. The new category applies to those who died prematurely through an offering of their life to God and neighbor.
Pope Francis greets a participant in the World Day of the Poor in Rome, Nov. 16, 2017. L’Osservatore Romano.
Nov. 19 — On the first-ever World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis eats lunch with 4,000 poor and people in need in Rome.
Nov. 27–Dec. 2 — In another trip to Asia, Pope Francis travels to Myanmar and Bangladesh. He visits landmarks and meets with government officials, Catholic clergy, and Buddhist monks. He also preaches the Gospel and promotes peace in the region.
2018
Jan. 15–21 — The pope takes another trip to Latin America, this time visiting Chile and Peru. The pontiff meets with government officials and members of the clergy while urging the faithful to remain close to the clergy and reject secularism. The Chilean visit leads to controversy over Chilean clergy sex abuse scandals.
Aug. 2 — The Vatican formally revises No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which concerns the death penalty. The previous text suggested the death penalty could be permissible in certain circumstances, but the revision states that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
Aug. 25 — Archbishop Carlo Viganò, former papal nuncio to the United States, publishes an 11-page letter calling for the resignation of Pope Francis and accusing him and other Vatican officials of covering up sexual abuse including allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The pope initially does not directly respond to the letter, but nine months after its publication he denies having prior knowledge about McCarrick’s conduct.
Aug. 25–26 — Pope Francis visits Dublin, Ireland, to attend the World Meeting of Families. The theme is “the Gospel of family, joy for the world.”
Pope Francis at the 2018 World Meeting of Families in Ireland. . Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Oct. 3–28 — The Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment takes place. The synod focuses on best practices to teach the faith to young people and to help them discern God’s will.
2019
Jan. 22–27 — The third World Youth Day during Pope Francis’ pontificate takes place during these six days in Panama City, Panama. Young Catholics from around the world gather for the event, with approximately 3 million people in attendance.
Feb. 4 — Pope Francis signs a joint document in with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, titled the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.” The document focuses on people of different faiths uniting together to live peacefully and advance a culture of mutual respect.
Pope Francis and Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, signed a joint declaration on human fraternity during an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb. 4, 2019. Vatican Media.
Feb. 21–24 — The Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, which is labeled the Vatican Sexual Abuse Summit, takes place. The meeting focuses on sexual abuse scandals in the Church and emphasizes responsibility, accountability, and transparency.
Oct. 6–27 — The Church holds the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, which is also known as the Amazon Synod. The synod is meant to present ways in which the Church can better evangelize the Amazon region but leads to controversy when carved images of a pregnant Amazonian woman, referred to by the pope as Pachamama, are used in several events and displayed in a basilica near the Vatican.
Oct. 13 — St. John Henry Newman, an Anglican convert to Catholicism and a cardinal, is canonized by Pope Francis. Newman’s writings inspired Catholic student associations at nonreligious colleges and universities in the United States and other countries.
2020
March 15 — Pope Francis takes a walking pilgrimage in Rome to the chapel of the crucifix and prays for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. The crucifix was carried through Rome during the plague of 1522.
March 27 — Pope Francis gives an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, praying for the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pope Francis venerates the miraculous crucifix of San Marcello al Corso in St. Peter’s Square during his Urbi et Orbi blessing, March 27, 2020. Vatican Media.
2021
March 5–8 — In his first papal trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis becomes the first pope to visit Iraq. On his trip, he signs a joint statement with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemning extremism and promoting peace.
July 3 — Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis, is indicted in a Vatican court for embezzlement, money laundering, and other crimes. The pope gives approval for the indictment.
July 4 — Pope Francis undergoes colon surgery for diverticulitis, a common condition in older people. The Vatican releases a statement that assures the pope “reacted well” to the surgery. Francis is released from the hospital after 10 days.
July 16 — Pope Francis issues a motu proprio titled Traditionis custodes. The document imposes heavy restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.
Dec. 2–6 — The pope travels to Cyprus and Greece. The trip includes another visit to the Greek island of Lesbos to meet with migrants.
Pope Francis greets His Beatitude Ieronymos II in Athens, Greece on Dec. 5, 2021. Vatican Media
2022
Jan. 11 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to a record store in Rome called StereoSound. The pope, who has an affinity for classical music, blesses the newly renovated store.
March 19 — The pope promulgates Praedicate evangelium, which reforms the Roman Curia. The reforms emphasize evangelization and establish more opportunities for the laity to be in leadership positions.
May 5 — Pope Francis is seen in a wheelchair for the first time in public and begins to use one more frequently. The pope has been suffering from knee problems for months.
Pope Francis greeted the crowd in a wheelchair at the end of his general audience on Aug. 3, 2022. Daniel Ibanez/CNA
July 24–30 — In his first papal visit to Canada, Pope Francis apologizes for the harsh treatment of the indigenous Canadians, saying many Christians and members of the Catholic Church were complicit.
2023
Jan. 31–Feb. 5 — Pope Francis travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. During his visit, the pope condemns political violence in the countries and promotes peace. He also participates in an ecumenical prayer service with Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields.
Rome Newsroom, Jun 9, 2022 / 07:38 am (CNA).
Pope Francis on Wednesday encouraged future Vatican diplomats to model themselves on the recently canonized St. Charles de Foucauld.The pope urged students of the … […]
39 Comments
I have read many reports about this interview that featured this attack by Moscow and this one here is the only one that said that “puzzling remarks” were made by the Pope. Why was I not surprised by the author’s opinion? Well, one gets used to it over time. None of the sites – secular, Aljazeera, Catholic- even went close to calling this interview puzzling.
It was what I expected the Pope to say and do. World Catholic News tells us that Pope Francis was seeking the possibility to meet Patriarch Kirill in Moscow. “He cited the 40-minute conversation via Zoom on 15 March last and the “justifications” for the war cited by Kirill, and returned to the missed appointment in June in Jerusalem.
“I listened,” said Pope Francis in the interview with Corriere della Sera, “and I told him: I completely fail to understand this. Brother, we are not state clerics; we cannot use the language of politics, but that of Jesus. We are pastors of the same holy people of God. That is why we must seek ways of peace, stop the fire of arms. The Patriarch cannot become Putin’s altar boy.”
So why does our Pope want to visit Russia urgently? He believes that Russia have a plan. “So, one would also understand the celerity of the escalation of these days. Because now it’s not just the Donbas, it’s Crimea, it’s Odessa, it’s taking away the Black Sea port from Ukraine, it’s everything. I am pessimistic, but we must make every possible gesture to stop the war.”
Let us pray that his efforts help in bringing about peace.
We desperately needed someone to challenge the western narrative and he has done it and I’m very thankful today. We are dangerously close to nuclear war and people are unaware and have been misled. The mainstream media is trying to prevent this story from being heard because they want war as much as anyone and they have built a house of cards. Hoping the world will hear his message soon and there will be peace in Ukraine!
I THINK THE STORY ABOUT POPE FRANCIS WAS DONE BY SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO THROW FRANCIS UNDER THE BUS AS A CAREER MOVE…IT’S THE TYPE OF TIMID AND FAKE COVERAGE TO PROTECT HIS CAREER…THE POPE WAS FOR ONCE VERY CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS…THE WRITER SEEMS TO PRETEND HE IS HELPING THE POPE WHEN IN FACT HE’S TRYING TO STAY A FRIEND OF THE WORLD OF WESTERN NEWS MEDIA…I PERCEIVE AN INSINCERE WRITE UP ON POPE FRANCIS HEREIN THIS BLOG…
I HOPE I CAN SAY A BIT MORE I DIDN’T MEAN TO END MY OUTRAGE AT THIS INSINCERE CAREER MOVING ARTICLE BY CHRISTOPHER ALSO I AGREE WITH EVERY WORD OF POPE FRANCIS OBSEVATIONS. MOST OF THE WORLD DOES ALSO EXCEPT NATO EUROPE…CHINA, INDIA, THE ISLAMIC STATES, LATIN AMERICA AND MANY OTHERS SEE UKRAINE WAS BEING USED AS A LAUNCH PAD TO ATTACK RUSSIA….WOULD THE USA ALLOW CHINA TO PUT MILITARY BASES NEXT DOOR TO TEXAS ?
THE WRITER IS A PRAGMATIST TRYING TO SELL HIS WARES…I DON’T EVEN BELIEVE HE BELIEVES HIS STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO POPE FRANCIS…I CAN PERCEIVE THIS WRITTER WAS VERY NERVOUS IN PUTTING HIS ANTI REALITY RESPONSE TOGETHER….IM NOT BUYING IT !!!!
FRANCIS WAS SPOT ON !!!
I’m not sure what article you’re reading, but once again this pope’s statements seem to me to be muddled, confusing, and even contradictory.
As a church, as a world, we need the pope to offer decisive moral guidance about the Ukraine situation, not more of his equivocal and ambiguous caviling.
Obviously, this pope, this man, is not a clear thinker.
As I’ve said numerous times already, Francis is woefully over-exposed. Francis advocated that young Catholics “make a mess” of things in the Church. He’s taken far too much of his own advice. The end result as I predicted a long time ago is that Catholics (and others) will stop paying any attention at all to the pronouncements of any Pope. We should credit that to the McCarricks, the Tobins and the Cupiches in the Church who have helped usher in the denouement of the Church.
“hard to see how the Holy See is supposed to bill itself credibly as an honest broker”?
Is this the Catholic world report or a protestant (etc ) Catholic bashing enterprise?
Americans should appreciate Putin’s efforts to bring Ukraine back into the Russian Federation. After all, Lincoln found a horrible, bloody war to bring the Confederate States back into the union. Lincoln has become a hero. So, why is Putin a villain?
George, the fact that Putin allows his soldiers to tie the hands of civilians behind their back and then proceed to execute them renders Putin a villain. I am quite certain that Lincoln never authorized such murder.
While respecting the right of others who disagree, I am in full agreement with Mr. Alteri’s analysis and commentary as well as with yesterday’s WSJ op-ed (“The Pope Blames NATO”) in which it described the Pope’s comments as “a terrible moral signal to send to dictators.”
Anybody who covers the Ukraine crisis as though it is a black and white situation where those who are clearly good guys are fighting those who are clearly evil, is either a liar or naive.
Taking into account ethical principles and the particular facts, Russia is in the right.
The US/West/NATO expanded to Russia’s borders, multiplied its membership (30+ countries), violated its own defensive principles by attacking Serbia, engineered a coup in Ukraine in 2014, filled Ukraine with modern weaponry, funded and directed bioweapon labs in Ukraine, trained with Ukrainian troops, encouraged, funded and helped to develop the Nazi Azov Battalions, encouraged Ukraine to break the Minsk accords, and encouraged Ukraine’s ethno-cleansing war against the Donbass Republics (10-15,000 civilans killed). The Donbass Republics appealed for help and Russia responded.
Russia’s cause is just.
Nations’ interest in joining NATO is precisely because ‘bears’ like Russia are threatening to THEM. Not sure why this has to be s-p-e-l-l-e-d out to the mental elites.
Of course, without USSR/Russia’s snorting and growling, there wouldn’t have been need of a NATO. So now who’s really to blame? Of course we could blame Hitler or Napoleon or Ceasar if you want to keep going with the historical causation game. But if you want to deal with the here and now, look at who’s raping whom (note the present tense).
Russia has No Right to invade another country.
Oh my, the mighty bear was so scared!
Go read a book, maybe a history book.
If you ever looked at a map Russia owns half the worlds land mass.
I guess they just gave their nuclear weapons to Russia because their 40 million people had an upper hand.
Your claim: The US/West/NATO expanded to Russia’s borders, multiplied its membership (30+ countries)
Reality: There was no promise not to enlarge NATO. People like to misquote the conversation with Gorbachev. He himself has confirmed that there was no such promise: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2014/11/06/did-nato-promise-not-to-enlarge-gorbachev-says-no/ Furthermore, sovereign nations have a right to enter voluntarily into whatever international organizations they wish to join.
Your claim: The US/West/NATO engineered a coup in Ukraine in 2014,
Reality: The Revolution of Dignity was not a Western coup. https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/euromaidan-was-a-us-financed-coup-detat-to-gain-control-over-ukraine/ This is a Kremlin propaganda narrative. Yanukovich refused to sign a deal with the EU, which the parliament had passed, and thousands of people in multiple cities took to the streets. Also realize that as of November 2022, about 80% of Ukrainians support EU membership.
Your claim: filled Ukraine with modern weaponry … trained with Ukrainian troops
… I wonder why?
Your claim: encouraged Ukraine to break the Minsk accords
Reality about the Minsk agreements: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-are-minsk-agreements-ukraine-conflict-2022-02-21/
Realize that this is a moot point when the fabricated “need” for the Minsk agreements wouldn’t have ever existed if Russia hadn’t covertly invaded and disingenuously denied any responsibility for the conflict.
Your claim: encouraged Ukraine’s ethno-cleansing war against the Donbass Republics (10-15,000 civilans killed). The Donbass Republics appealed for help and Russia responded.
Reality: This is another Kremlin line that you are regurgitating. There is no credible evidence to support this claim. Practically the only sources that agree with this propaganda are either Russian state media, fringe conspiracy “sources,” and American alt-right or socialist publications. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/china/disinformation-about-russias-invasion-ukraine-debunking-seven-myths-spread-russia_en?s=166
Your claim: Russia’s cause is just.
Reality: Anything but.
KWP you are fishing for contrary insights to help upkeep NATO effort, loquacity and diversion. Angela Merkel does the same thing by lying when she said that it was never intended that the Minsk Accords should succeed. An examination of her styling tells the true story.
The Accords were designed to produce internal accommodations in Ukraine and, of course, peace, which is what they would have achieved in actuality; however, while they were being held to notionally, other things were apace undermining them. These other things are the forces you keep from identifying properly.
But Merkel has admitted to them! which she does via a lie. What is her lie? From early she would have been a genuine ally in the Minsk plans but then later she compromised her integrity; and now she finally composed the gymnastics for the graceful touches upon the history uneven bars.
If Merkel spoke the truth she would have to identify the forces both by name and strategically. Yet even as she won’t, it reveals further insight. NATO as it is going is a mercenary alliance for hostility and aggression whose tools are reactionary provocations and proxy war. Reality. She would fall off the bars.
I think this development in NATO is peculiar to the grouping it has nurtured and attracted, the military-industrial profit magnates and the brain trust within it. Also, it has a politico-academic profile and intellectual tradition, it is their “natural progression” of the Cold War era “policy of containment”.
Good to have come across the news about Cardnl Dolan’s recent visit to
Poland & Ukraine , his appreciation for the way in which the refugees are being treated in Poland ..calling the war ‘raw evil ‘…on the idolatry of nationalism , agreeing with the similar warning from the Holy Father ..
The Holy Father’s desire to go to Russia – to help bring down those idols – as St.Joseph did in Egypt…for the people and powers in Russia that need to hear the truth , that there were alternatives to meet with their ( mostly paranoid ) fears ..the contempt in the media about the desire of the Holy Father to deal with issues through respectful dialogue – ? did same undermine the trust to instead choose war .. to add to the debts of not being able to free own people from the slavery – as a nation that has become used to Satanic sacrifices of the innocent .. the related hardness of hearts likely the true root ..
Holy Father who is also named after St.George , desiring to drive out the dragons that have enslaved the nation ..would be good for us to join him in good will .
Catholic journalists today are quite fortune. Their opening sentence almost always writes itself: “Pope Francis makes puzzling remarks to/about _______ [fill in the blank].”
Pope Francis’ so-called muddled responses on Ukraine reflect his view that no war can be justified. Everybody who makes and sells weapons that kill civilians, or gives them to either side in a war, has blood on their hands, the pope has several times emphasized. If anything, his potential as peace broker is heightened by refusing to be a cheerleader for Ukrianian resisters who may in the end also have the blood of their own people on their hands. In this war, ironically. both Russia and Ukraine can claim. “To save the country we had no choice but to destroy.”
Anyone can poke the bear to get a reaction, even NATO. Might does not make right. If Moscow or China placed troops or nukes in Mexico we would have a fit. What makes it right for us to slowly encircle Russia? Why did we not reach out to them when the Wall came down. Instead we slowly built up around them. This does not justify the invasion, especially war crimes. But read WWI and it’s causes. It was stupidity that started it. WWII was caused by American President Wilson’s stupidity in how he dealt with the Germans after WWI. We really need to work for peace. The alternative is nuclear destruction of most everything. This isn’t 1900, it’s the high tech age with high tech death and destruction. It will be the slaughter of our young people first, then of entire civilizations. And the living will envy the dead. We need to negotiate and not arm. These weapon systems are evil in their construction. Peace is the only way forward. Treaty’s written in human hearts. Our Lady of Fatima gave us the last to means to save us from all this destruction, Devotion to Her Immaculate Heart through the 5 First Saturday Devotions and the Daily Rosary for the conversion of sinners and peace. Only these two ways will save us.
Yep. Chris Collins reported on Twitter: “…the pope revealed what a head of govt told him in a closed door meeting,…”
In the USA, orthodox Catholics remember another instance of Francis wielding his power-brokering head-of-state papal authority. Biden said the pope said Biden is a good Catholic. Biden said the pope said Biden should continue to receive Holy Communion. The pope said nothing.
What credibility Francis lost due to this latest Ukraine-Russia glitch is not much; it measured very little from the get-go. With each passing day, as Francis digs his dirt ever deeper, orthodox Catholics endure more, yet pray Romans 5:4 more, and we are at peace.
Pope Francis is, except in the minds of his regular detractors – trads and protestants – is a well-loved Pope to millions of Catholics, and the most respected religious leader in the world.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/29/let-us-dream-by-pope-francis-review-the-holy-father-of-fraternity – ‘Let us Dream’ -a book seemingly well guided by St.Joseph as one can read through same as though sitting in the company of the beloved Father .. Hopefully, many of the CWR readers have already read the above ; having received same as a gift a while ago, thought it was a summary of what we read about the views of the Holy Father in the ‘Catholic’ web sites , had put it away with intent to look through same as time permits ..Glad that the ‘good spirit’ helped to start reading through same , gladly finding a book that is rich in many many aspects – answering the doubts/ accusations ..the good that has been and is to be expected in the Synodal process ..the distortions in the media , in conveying the truth about the Synods of the past.. answering the ( obsessive and accusatory ) questions that are raised in decisions from related occasions .. constant reminder and lessons as to what the Holy Spirit does versus the bad spirits ..
essential and even a must read for all who might have been fed from the wrong hands , to thus pray more deeply for all such occasions and persons too , along with The Mother as she certainly does for all and in whom we have the ‘brotherhood ‘ as well …
The Ignatius Press custom of sending free books with orders – hope same can be substituted by some means of helping more persons to read the above book .
God bless !
Catholic teaching existed prior to Francis and will survive when he is gone. Whether millions of Catholics love, respect, or idolize his words or deeds is not at issue. Catholic truth does not contend for a popularity prize nor for majority vote.
There is the sin of “human respect.” Catholic Culture has a good article about it.
Jesus taught that His followers are not of the world because he chose them out of it. When the world hates Christ’s followers, they understand why. Conversely, Christ’s followers understand the truth of the world when it claims to love.
Although you say here that whether our Pope is loved and respected is not the issue, but you earlier insisted: “What credibility Francis lost due to this latest Ukraine-Russia glitch is not much; it measured very little from the get-go.” Yes, you made it an issue.
It is indeed true that the world hates Christ’s followers but Jesus came to save us while we were still sinners. He wants his true and faithful disciples to do likewise.
A dictionary may help. One’s moral authority, credibility, and integrity are not synonyms for love and respect. We love and respect flowers and pets; to speak of their moral authority would make no sense.
The City of God differs from the city of the world. There is a SIN of human respect. Francis receives gives and gets plenty of that; no moral authority is necessary.
I can recommend more reading if you are still confused about all this. If you don’t like to read, perhaps you can pray.
Actually, you are the one is who is confused. You made a baseless claim that Pope Francis had little credibility. I just do not agree with that. There are his detractors who want us to believe that he has lost moral authority, but their futile efforts will fail.
People should not distort differences of governments between Western NATO countries and the East. Don’t distort who is aggressors.
First it was only about Crimea, but we see Russian pattern.
Ukraine gave up Nuclear Weapons, agreement’s were made.
If they didn’t, would things be different?
They just wanted a Free Society.
People need to open a history book.
Maybe look at old maps.
My grandfather came from a border town in Poland, only later to become a province of Russia.
Bottom line is Russia only wants that port for nothing more than control and power.
I have read many reports about this interview that featured this attack by Moscow and this one here is the only one that said that “puzzling remarks” were made by the Pope. Why was I not surprised by the author’s opinion? Well, one gets used to it over time. None of the sites – secular, Aljazeera, Catholic- even went close to calling this interview puzzling.
It was what I expected the Pope to say and do. World Catholic News tells us that Pope Francis was seeking the possibility to meet Patriarch Kirill in Moscow. “He cited the 40-minute conversation via Zoom on 15 March last and the “justifications” for the war cited by Kirill, and returned to the missed appointment in June in Jerusalem.
“I listened,” said Pope Francis in the interview with Corriere della Sera, “and I told him: I completely fail to understand this. Brother, we are not state clerics; we cannot use the language of politics, but that of Jesus. We are pastors of the same holy people of God. That is why we must seek ways of peace, stop the fire of arms. The Patriarch cannot become Putin’s altar boy.”
So why does our Pope want to visit Russia urgently? He believes that Russia have a plan. “So, one would also understand the celerity of the escalation of these days. Because now it’s not just the Donbas, it’s Crimea, it’s Odessa, it’s taking away the Black Sea port from Ukraine, it’s everything. I am pessimistic, but we must make every possible gesture to stop the war.”
Let us pray that his efforts help in bringing about peace.
We desperately needed someone to challenge the western narrative and he has done it and I’m very thankful today. We are dangerously close to nuclear war and people are unaware and have been misled. The mainstream media is trying to prevent this story from being heard because they want war as much as anyone and they have built a house of cards. Hoping the world will hear his message soon and there will be peace in Ukraine!
I THINK THE STORY ABOUT POPE FRANCIS WAS DONE BY SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO THROW FRANCIS UNDER THE BUS AS A CAREER MOVE…IT’S THE TYPE OF TIMID AND FAKE COVERAGE TO PROTECT HIS CAREER…THE POPE WAS FOR ONCE VERY CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS…THE WRITER SEEMS TO PRETEND HE IS HELPING THE POPE WHEN IN FACT HE’S TRYING TO STAY A FRIEND OF THE WORLD OF WESTERN NEWS MEDIA…I PERCEIVE AN INSINCERE WRITE UP ON POPE FRANCIS HEREIN THIS BLOG…
I HOPE I CAN SAY A BIT MORE I DIDN’T MEAN TO END MY OUTRAGE AT THIS INSINCERE CAREER MOVING ARTICLE BY CHRISTOPHER ALSO I AGREE WITH EVERY WORD OF POPE FRANCIS OBSEVATIONS. MOST OF THE WORLD DOES ALSO EXCEPT NATO EUROPE…CHINA, INDIA, THE ISLAMIC STATES, LATIN AMERICA AND MANY OTHERS SEE UKRAINE WAS BEING USED AS A LAUNCH PAD TO ATTACK RUSSIA….WOULD THE USA ALLOW CHINA TO PUT MILITARY BASES NEXT DOOR TO TEXAS ?
THE WRITER IS A PRAGMATIST TRYING TO SELL HIS WARES…I DON’T EVEN BELIEVE HE BELIEVES HIS STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO POPE FRANCIS…I CAN PERCEIVE THIS WRITTER WAS VERY NERVOUS IN PUTTING HIS ANTI REALITY RESPONSE TOGETHER….IM NOT BUYING IT !!!!
FRANCIS WAS SPOT ON !!!
David! Mal!
I’m not sure what article you’re reading, but once again this pope’s statements seem to me to be muddled, confusing, and even contradictory.
As a church, as a world, we need the pope to offer decisive moral guidance about the Ukraine situation, not more of his equivocal and ambiguous caviling.
Obviously, this pope, this man, is not a clear thinker.
Exactly. Pope Francis was and is spot on. Totally agree David Peters.
Fools rush in . . .
As I’ve said numerous times already, Francis is woefully over-exposed. Francis advocated that young Catholics “make a mess” of things in the Church. He’s taken far too much of his own advice. The end result as I predicted a long time ago is that Catholics (and others) will stop paying any attention at all to the pronouncements of any Pope. We should credit that to the McCarricks, the Tobins and the Cupiches in the Church who have helped usher in the denouement of the Church.
“hard to see how the Holy See is supposed to bill itself credibly as an honest broker”?
Is this the Catholic world report or a protestant (etc ) Catholic bashing enterprise?
Americans should appreciate Putin’s efforts to bring Ukraine back into the Russian Federation. After all, Lincoln found a horrible, bloody war to bring the Confederate States back into the union. Lincoln has become a hero. So, why is Putin a villain?
George, the fact that Putin allows his soldiers to tie the hands of civilians behind their back and then proceed to execute them renders Putin a villain. I am quite certain that Lincoln never authorized such murder.
You have got to be kidding, George.
Ever hear of slavery?
The Yalta Conference?
The Berlin Wall?
So now Putin is Lincoln. Ukraine is the seceding Slavocracy. History means nothing. Truth is trash.
Thank God that we Croats had another Pope who understood and supported us during the war when Serbia attacked us.
While respecting the right of others who disagree, I am in full agreement with Mr. Alteri’s analysis and commentary as well as with yesterday’s WSJ op-ed (“The Pope Blames NATO”) in which it described the Pope’s comments as “a terrible moral signal to send to dictators.”
Agree…an absolutely horrific statement.
Anybody who covers the Ukraine crisis as though it is a black and white situation where those who are clearly good guys are fighting those who are clearly evil, is either a liar or naive.
Taking into account ethical principles and the particular facts, Russia is in the right.
The US/West/NATO expanded to Russia’s borders, multiplied its membership (30+ countries), violated its own defensive principles by attacking Serbia, engineered a coup in Ukraine in 2014, filled Ukraine with modern weaponry, funded and directed bioweapon labs in Ukraine, trained with Ukrainian troops, encouraged, funded and helped to develop the Nazi Azov Battalions, encouraged Ukraine to break the Minsk accords, and encouraged Ukraine’s ethno-cleansing war against the Donbass Republics (10-15,000 civilans killed). The Donbass Republics appealed for help and Russia responded.
Russia’s cause is just.
Nations’ interest in joining NATO is precisely because ‘bears’ like Russia are threatening to THEM. Not sure why this has to be s-p-e-l-l-e-d out to the mental elites.
Of course, without USSR/Russia’s snorting and growling, there wouldn’t have been need of a NATO. So now who’s really to blame? Of course we could blame Hitler or Napoleon or Ceasar if you want to keep going with the historical causation game. But if you want to deal with the here and now, look at who’s raping whom (note the present tense).
Russia has No Right to invade another country.
Oh my, the mighty bear was so scared!
Go read a book, maybe a history book.
If you ever looked at a map Russia owns half the worlds land mass.
I guess they just gave their nuclear weapons to Russia because their 40 million people had an upper hand.
Your claims vs. reality.
Your claim: The US/West/NATO expanded to Russia’s borders, multiplied its membership (30+ countries)
Reality: There was no promise not to enlarge NATO. People like to misquote the conversation with Gorbachev. He himself has confirmed that there was no such promise: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2014/11/06/did-nato-promise-not-to-enlarge-gorbachev-says-no/ Furthermore, sovereign nations have a right to enter voluntarily into whatever international organizations they wish to join.
Your claim: The US/West/NATO engineered a coup in Ukraine in 2014,
Reality: The Revolution of Dignity was not a Western coup. https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/euromaidan-was-a-us-financed-coup-detat-to-gain-control-over-ukraine/ This is a Kremlin propaganda narrative. Yanukovich refused to sign a deal with the EU, which the parliament had passed, and thousands of people in multiple cities took to the streets. Also realize that as of November 2022, about 80% of Ukrainians support EU membership.
Your claim: filled Ukraine with modern weaponry … trained with Ukrainian troops
… I wonder why?
Your claim: funded and directed bioweapon labs in Ukraine
Reality: This is another Russian propaganda narrative taken up by the alt-right/conspiracy community. https://www.npr.org/2022/03/25/1087910880/biological-weapons-far-right-russia-ukraine
Your claim: encouraged, funded and helped to develop the Nazi Azov Battalions
Reality: The Azov battalion is not Nazi. It was deradicalized. https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2022/08/19/1384992/much-azov-about-nothing-how-the-ukrainian-neo-nazis-canard-fooled-the-world
Your claim: encouraged Ukraine to break the Minsk accords
Reality about the Minsk agreements: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-are-minsk-agreements-ukraine-conflict-2022-02-21/
Realize that this is a moot point when the fabricated “need” for the Minsk agreements wouldn’t have ever existed if Russia hadn’t covertly invaded and disingenuously denied any responsibility for the conflict.
Your claim: encouraged Ukraine’s ethno-cleansing war against the Donbass Republics (10-15,000 civilans killed). The Donbass Republics appealed for help and Russia responded.
Reality: This is another Kremlin line that you are regurgitating. There is no credible evidence to support this claim. Practically the only sources that agree with this propaganda are either Russian state media, fringe conspiracy “sources,” and American alt-right or socialist publications.
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/china/disinformation-about-russias-invasion-ukraine-debunking-seven-myths-spread-russia_en?s=166
Your claim: Russia’s cause is just.
Reality: Anything but.
KWP you are fishing for contrary insights to help upkeep NATO effort, loquacity and diversion. Angela Merkel does the same thing by lying when she said that it was never intended that the Minsk Accords should succeed. An examination of her styling tells the true story.
The Accords were designed to produce internal accommodations in Ukraine and, of course, peace, which is what they would have achieved in actuality; however, while they were being held to notionally, other things were apace undermining them. These other things are the forces you keep from identifying properly.
But Merkel has admitted to them! which she does via a lie. What is her lie? From early she would have been a genuine ally in the Minsk plans but then later she compromised her integrity; and now she finally composed the gymnastics for the graceful touches upon the history uneven bars.
If Merkel spoke the truth she would have to identify the forces both by name and strategically. Yet even as she won’t, it reveals further insight. NATO as it is going is a mercenary alliance for hostility and aggression whose tools are reactionary provocations and proxy war. Reality. She would fall off the bars.
I think this development in NATO is peculiar to the grouping it has nurtured and attracted, the military-industrial profit magnates and the brain trust within it. Also, it has a politico-academic profile and intellectual tradition, it is their “natural progression” of the Cold War era “policy of containment”.
Francis has a point. NATO has been poking the Russian bear since the 1990’s.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251114/cardinal-dolan-talks-ukraine-refugee-relief-russian-invasion
Good to have come across the news about Cardnl Dolan’s recent visit to
Poland & Ukraine , his appreciation for the way in which the refugees are being treated in Poland ..calling the war ‘raw evil ‘…on the idolatry of nationalism , agreeing with the similar warning from the Holy Father ..
The Holy Father’s desire to go to Russia – to help bring down those idols – as St.Joseph did in Egypt…for the people and powers in Russia that need to hear the truth , that there were alternatives to meet with their ( mostly paranoid ) fears ..the contempt in the media about the desire of the Holy Father to deal with issues through respectful dialogue – ? did same undermine the trust to instead choose war .. to add to the debts of not being able to free own people from the slavery – as a nation that has become used to Satanic sacrifices of the innocent .. the related hardness of hearts likely the true root ..
Holy Father who is also named after St.George , desiring to drive out the dragons that have enslaved the nation ..would be good for us to join him in good will .
Catholic journalists today are quite fortune. Their opening sentence almost always writes itself: “Pope Francis makes puzzling remarks to/about _______ [fill in the blank].”
Pope Francis’ so-called muddled responses on Ukraine reflect his view that no war can be justified. Everybody who makes and sells weapons that kill civilians, or gives them to either side in a war, has blood on their hands, the pope has several times emphasized. If anything, his potential as peace broker is heightened by refusing to be a cheerleader for Ukrianian resisters who may in the end also have the blood of their own people on their hands. In this war, ironically. both Russia and Ukraine can claim. “To save the country we had no choice but to destroy.”
Anyone can poke the bear to get a reaction, even NATO. Might does not make right. If Moscow or China placed troops or nukes in Mexico we would have a fit. What makes it right for us to slowly encircle Russia? Why did we not reach out to them when the Wall came down. Instead we slowly built up around them. This does not justify the invasion, especially war crimes. But read WWI and it’s causes. It was stupidity that started it. WWII was caused by American President Wilson’s stupidity in how he dealt with the Germans after WWI. We really need to work for peace. The alternative is nuclear destruction of most everything. This isn’t 1900, it’s the high tech age with high tech death and destruction. It will be the slaughter of our young people first, then of entire civilizations. And the living will envy the dead. We need to negotiate and not arm. These weapon systems are evil in their construction. Peace is the only way forward. Treaty’s written in human hearts. Our Lady of Fatima gave us the last to means to save us from all this destruction, Devotion to Her Immaculate Heart through the 5 First Saturday Devotions and the Daily Rosary for the conversion of sinners and peace. Only these two ways will save us.
Yep. Chris Collins reported on Twitter: “…the pope revealed what a head of govt told him in a closed door meeting,…”
In the USA, orthodox Catholics remember another instance of Francis wielding his power-brokering head-of-state papal authority. Biden said the pope said Biden is a good Catholic. Biden said the pope said Biden should continue to receive Holy Communion. The pope said nothing.
What credibility Francis lost due to this latest Ukraine-Russia glitch is not much; it measured very little from the get-go. With each passing day, as Francis digs his dirt ever deeper, orthodox Catholics endure more, yet pray Romans 5:4 more, and we are at peace.
Pope Francis is, except in the minds of his regular detractors – trads and protestants – is a well-loved Pope to millions of Catholics, and the most respected religious leader in the world.
My reply to Mal appears below.
And my response is below his.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/29/let-us-dream-by-pope-francis-review-the-holy-father-of-fraternity – ‘Let us Dream’ -a book seemingly well guided by St.Joseph as one can read through same as though sitting in the company of the beloved Father .. Hopefully, many of the CWR readers have already read the above ; having received same as a gift a while ago, thought it was a summary of what we read about the views of the Holy Father in the ‘Catholic’ web sites , had put it away with intent to look through same as time permits ..Glad that the ‘good spirit’ helped to start reading through same , gladly finding a book that is rich in many many aspects – answering the doubts/ accusations ..the good that has been and is to be expected in the Synodal process ..the distortions in the media , in conveying the truth about the Synods of the past.. answering the ( obsessive and accusatory ) questions that are raised in decisions from related occasions .. constant reminder and lessons as to what the Holy Spirit does versus the bad spirits ..
essential and even a must read for all who might have been fed from the wrong hands , to thus pray more deeply for all such occasions and persons too , along with The Mother as she certainly does for all and in whom we have the ‘brotherhood ‘ as well …
The Ignatius Press custom of sending free books with orders – hope same can be substituted by some means of helping more persons to read the above book .
God bless !
Catholic teaching existed prior to Francis and will survive when he is gone. Whether millions of Catholics love, respect, or idolize his words or deeds is not at issue. Catholic truth does not contend for a popularity prize nor for majority vote.
There is the sin of “human respect.” Catholic Culture has a good article about it.
Jesus taught that His followers are not of the world because he chose them out of it. When the world hates Christ’s followers, they understand why. Conversely, Christ’s followers understand the truth of the world when it claims to love.
Although you say here that whether our Pope is loved and respected is not the issue, but you earlier insisted: “What credibility Francis lost due to this latest Ukraine-Russia glitch is not much; it measured very little from the get-go.” Yes, you made it an issue.
It is indeed true that the world hates Christ’s followers but Jesus came to save us while we were still sinners. He wants his true and faithful disciples to do likewise.
A dictionary may help. One’s moral authority, credibility, and integrity are not synonyms for love and respect. We love and respect flowers and pets; to speak of their moral authority would make no sense.
The City of God differs from the city of the world. There is a SIN of human respect. Francis receives gives and gets plenty of that; no moral authority is necessary.
I can recommend more reading if you are still confused about all this. If you don’t like to read, perhaps you can pray.
Actually, you are the one is who is confused. You made a baseless claim that Pope Francis had little credibility. I just do not agree with that. There are his detractors who want us to believe that he has lost moral authority, but their futile efforts will fail.
“Catholic truth does not contend for a popularity prize nor for majority vote.”
Very well said, and completely true!
Francis’s needs to realize that if he cannot say anything smart or constructive, it would be better to just keep quiet.
People should not distort differences of governments between Western NATO countries and the East. Don’t distort who is aggressors.
First it was only about Crimea, but we see Russian pattern.
Ukraine gave up Nuclear Weapons, agreement’s were made.
If they didn’t, would things be different?
They just wanted a Free Society.
People need to open a history book.
Maybe look at old maps.
My grandfather came from a border town in Poland, only later to become a province of Russia.
Bottom line is Russia only wants that port for nothing more than control and power.