Pope Francis addressed this Sunday directly to the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to beg him to stop, also out of love for his own people, the “spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine, rejecting in the same way the annexations of Ukrainian territories because they are “contrary to international law”.
In what was the first time since the beginning of the war in February that the pope addressed the Russian leader, the supreme pontiff highlighted the request to stop the annexations of Ukrainian territories, statements that were made during the Angelus prayer, in Saint Peter’s Square.
The pope lamented the illegal annexations and recommended respecting the territorial integrity of each country, according to reports DW.
“I deeply deplore the serious situation that has created in recent days, with new actions contrary to the principles of international law,” Pope Francis said, adding that with these actions the risk increases. or a nuclear escalation, also fearing “catastrophic” consequences throughout the world.
Francisco likewise confessed his “profound pain” for the “rivers of blood and tears shed these months” , apart from the thousands of victims, especially children, as well as the destruction that has left many people and families homeless “and threatens vast territories with cold and hunger”.
“ And what about the fact that humanity finds itself once again facing the atomic threat? It’s absurd. What else needs to happen? How much blood must still be shed for us to understand that war is never a solution, but only destruction?” asked the pope, who called on Volodimir Zelensky to open up to serious peace proposals.
Francisco emphasized that the new generations must breathe the air of peace and not the polluted air of war, and asked that after seven months of war, all diplomatic instruments that have not been used be used to end the conflict.
With information from DW