Rome Newsroom, Oct 2, 2022 / 06:32 am (CNA).
Pope Francis made a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin for an immediate ceasefire on Sunday, imploring him to end the “spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine.
Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 2, the pope dedicated nearly all of his Angelus address to the war in Ukraine.
“I deeply deplore the grave situation that has arisen in recent days … It increases the risk of nuclear escalation, giving rise to fears of uncontrollable and catastrophic consequences worldwide,” Pope Francis said.
“My appeal is addressed first and foremost to the president of the Russian Federation, imploring him to stop this spiral of violence and death, also for the sake of his people,” he said.
The pope also appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be “open to serious proposals for peace” and to the international community to “do everything possible to bring an end to the war without allowing themselves to be drawn into dangerous escalations.”
He said: “After seven months of hostilities, let us use all diplomatic means, even those that may not have been used so far, to bring an end to this terrible tragedy. War in itself is a mistake and a horror.”
The pope’s five-minute speech on the war in Ukraine from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square was a departure from his typical Sunday routine. The pope usually gives a reflection on the Church’s Sunday Gospel reading before praying the Angelus, a traditional Marian prayer, and speaking about his prayer intentions.
Pope Francis underlined that he chose to devote his entire reflection to Ukraine because the course of the war has “has become so serious, devastating, and threatening that it has caused great concern.”
“I am saddened by the rivers of blood and tears spilled in these months,” he said.
“I am grieved by the thousands of victims, especially children, and the destruction that has left many people and families homeless and threatens vast territories with cold and hunger. Such actions can never be justified, never!”
The pope has frequently mentioned Ukraine in his prayers at the end of his public audiences since the war began in February. Recently in a conversation with Jesuit priests during his trip to Kazakhstan, the pope said that he had attempted to help a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia.
“In the name of God and in the name of the sense of humanity that dwells in every heart, I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire,” Pope Francis said in his appeal.
“Let there be a halt to arms, and let us seek the conditions for negotiations that will lead to solutions that are not imposed by force, but consensual, just and stable. And they will be so if they are based on respect for the sacrosanct value of human life, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, and the rights of minorities and legitimate concerns.”
At the end of his Angelus address dedicated to Ukraine, the pope said that he has also been praying for the people of Florida and Cuba hit by Hurricane Ian.
“May the Lord receive the victims, give consolation and hope to those who suffer, and sustain the solidarity efforts,” he said.
Francis added that he was praying for the victims of a stampede at the end of a soccer match in Indonesia, where at least 174 people died, according to the Associated Press.
Pope Francis also offered a reminder to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square that a new light display on the life of St. Peter will be projected on the Vatican basilica each night for the first two weeks of October. Andrea Bocelli is slated to sing at the show’s inauguration on the night of Oct. 2.
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Justice has wider context than resolution of specific issues. At times compromise, even if not perfect insofar as satisfying grievances is the best response. We’re approaching nuclear war because both sides are resolute in obtaining objectives that cancel the other. It’s most likely only a negotiated agreement [or a less committed settlement] will avoid nuclear response by Russia. Pope Francis is correct.
This notion that the freedom of the world is at stake in defeating Russia, is overblown rhetoric, a false proposition based on ideology not fact – ideology of a Leftist leaning Ukraine regime, and duped conservative, intellectually myopic allies [including Leftists] in the US. Russia, ironically, is a more traditionally moral Christian entity than corrupt, despotic Ukraine. Ukraine, a nation with heavy Biden family investment and history of US political subversion.
American military hierarchy seem intent on the defeat of Russia oblivious to the realistic threat of Russia’s nuclear response, and America’s own sordid history that includes backing by cadre of conservative politicians and intellectual neocons.
Russia invaded Ukrainian territory.
Putin is a monster.
Zelensky wants NATO.
NATO wants USA money.
USA has Joe Biden.
Vote Republican.
In short, had Donald Trump been reelected we might never have seen any of this. He knows how to make deals with people like Putin. Mr. Biden does not.
Russia has certainly been the aggressor lately, but I think there’s much more going on behind the scenes.
I had family members traveling in Europe this past summer & the sentiment of some Poles was that they wished both the Ukraine & Russia would just go away. Neither side was supported by them & Poland has had some sad history with Ukrainians in the past.
The West seems willing to punish Putin right down to the last Ukranian life. When & if the war spirals outside of the Ukraine, then we might see some sincere efforts from the West at peacemaking.
Sadly his Holiness doesn’t seem to understand that Putin is immune to appeals to morality, reason and logic. He is frothing at the mouth insane and is hellbent on reabsorbing Ukraine into his empire regardless of cost to either country. Only a decisive military defeat of his legions will put an end to this nightmare.
The nature of the problem is not Russia-Ukraine or Ukraine-Russia. It arises from a particular blinkered ambition among certain groupings in the west including inside Poland. It wants to dress itself up a some sort of “Great Cause” framed from an idea -an idol- of a victory in WWII: nonsensical albeit very deadly and profitable.
Recently it did a media vaunt caricaturizing Putin as being a set product of history and mischief, as a calculating character driven from old communist imperialisms.
The problem will not solve according to wrong assessment; rather, left unchecked, the western groupings will spread it to other regions using other stooge countries and skewed historicisms drawn from those places made to look very important.
Unfortunately, if Putin had wanted the Pope’s input, he probably would have asked before he invaded. Miracles can happen though.
‘ Based on the respect for the sacrosanct value of human life as well as the sovergnity and territorial integrity of each country , rights of minorities ‘ –
The Holy Spirit speaking – as to what is at the root of the war …how both realms are well connected – as breeching of ‘territories ‘ , concerns of ‘minorities’ ..
We can dream that both countries would use the occasion to take steps to collaborate – for a culture of life in own lands , that all else will be added …Zelensky too from a background that could connect the dots ..and for nations world over to take note ..Mercy !
This afternoon on Bloomberg Surveillance, Jeffrey Sachs goes counter to the narrative and Bloomberg anchors run into a muddle -from 1:51:36.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbt-CsSRJl8&t=6696s
[ UK U-turn | Bloomberg Surveillance 10/03/2022
……. Oct 3, 2022 Tom Keene, Jonathan Ferro and Lisa Abramowicz have the economy and the markets “under surveillance” as they cover the latest in finance, economics and investment, and talk with the leading voices shaping the conversation around world markets. This show is simulcast worldwide on Bloomberg Television and Radio. ]