On Saturday, Pope Francis announced he was planning a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
When asked if he was considering an invitation from Ukrainian political and religious officials on the plane from Rome to Malta, Francis replied, “Yes, it is on the table.” He didn’t go into any further detail.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Ukraine’s Byzantine-rite Catholic Church, and Andriy Yurash, Ukraine’s envoy to the Vatican, have all extended invitations to Francis.
He has spoken with Zelensky and Shevchuk on the phone.
Since the war, which Russia refers to as a “special military operation” aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine, the pope has condemned what he considers “unjustified aggression” and “atrocities.”
However, he has only mentioned Russia specifically in prayers, such as on March 25 during a special worldwide event for peace.
Image Credit: Getty
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