Russia-Ukraine war, Kirill attacks Pope Francis: "deplorable words"

Pope Francis and Patriarch of Moscow Kirill

The war between Russia and Ukraine also becomes a clash between religious authorities: the Patriarch of Moscow against Pope Bergoglio

Pope Francis’ words on the war in Ukraine continue to be discussed. In particular, the Pontiff spoke of the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, openly criticizing him: “We are pastors of the same people of God. This is why we must seek ways of peace, to cease firing our weapons. The patriarch cannot become Putin’s altar boy ”.

The reaction of the person concerned is decidedly piqued: “It is regrettable that a month and a half after the interview with Patriarch Kirill, Pope Francis chose the wrong tone to convey the content of this interview. Such statements are unlikely to contribute to the establishment of a constructive dialogueor between the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, which is particularly necessary at the moment, ”writes the spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchate.

The note also reports part of the content of the interview that took place with Pope Francis last March 16:

Pope in Russia, Parolin: now it’s up to Putin to react, we await an answer

“Thank you for the opportunity to organize this interview. When we met in Cuba in 2016, I told her that we met at a right time and in a right place “- Kirill told him -” And although now our conversation takes place via remote means of communication, I am convinced that we are talking again at a right time. With your permission, I would like to share with you my vision of the difficult situation we are currently experiencing. Of course, we live in different information fields: the Western media have hardly spoken about some facts to which I would like to draw your attention“.

From Moscow it is also specified that Patriarch Kirill noted that the conflict began in 2014 with the events of the Maidan in Kiev, which led to a change of power in Ukraine. In particular, he drew the interlocutor’s attention to the events in Odessa and their consequences: “A peaceful demonstration of Russian-speaking residents took place in this city, who intended to defend their right to use their mother tongue and culture. This peaceful gathering was attacked by some members Nazi groups who started beating protesters with sticks. People have started to seek refuge in the nearby building of the House of Trade Unions ”.

“It all started in 2014, there are Nazi groups in Ukraine”

“And at that moment – continues the patriarchy – something terrifying happened: this building was locked and then set on fire. People tried to escape by jumping from the second or third floor and, of course, yesi killed. Those who approached the windows, afraid to jump out, were shot from below. We followed all this on almost live television. This horrible ‘lesson’ from Odessa influenced the decision of the people of southeastern Ukraine to defend their rights ”.

“Furthermore – notes the Moscow Patriarchate – Patriarch Kirill recalled that at the end of the Soviet era, Russia was reassured that NATO would not move an inch east. However, this promise was broken, and even some of the former Soviet Baltic republics joined NATO. As a result, it developed a very dangerous situation: the NATO borders are located 130 kilometers from St. Petersburg, the flight time of the missiles is just a few minutes. If Ukraine were admitted to NATO, the flight time to Moscow would also be a few minutes. Russia could not and cannot allow this to happen ”.

“The Patriarch stressed: ‘This situation hurts me deeply. My flock is on both sides of the conflict, they are in the majority orthodox people. Part of it also belongs to His flock. Therefore, I would like, abstracting the geopolitical component, to raise the question of how we and our Churches can influence the state of things? How can we contribute to pacification with a single goal: to achieve the strengthening of peace and justice? It is very important in the current conditions to avoid further escalation ‘”, reports the Moscow Patriarchate.

“Pope Francis ‘response – the Patriarchate continues – was correctly summarized by the Vatican Press Office in the message of March 16:’ In thanking the Patriarch of all the Russias for the meeting, motivated by the desire to indicate, as pastors of their people, a road to peace ”, the Pope agreed with the Patriarch that “The Church must not use the language of politics, but the language of Jesus”. “We are pastors of the same Holy People who believe in God, in the Holy Trinity, in the Holy Mother of God: for this we must unite in the effort to help peace, to help those who suffer, to seek ways of peace, to stop the fire”. As noted in the same message, ‘the parties underlined the exceptional importance of the ongoing negotiation process’ “.