Pope Francis addresses Putin for first time since invasion of Ukraine: “Stop the cycle of violence and death”

The Pope Francisco Addressing the Russian president publicly this Sunday, Vladimir Putinstop”A spiral of violence and death” expressed concern about the risk of nuclear escalation in Ukraine and on the planet.

“My appeal is addressed above all to the President of the Russian Federation, This spiral of violence and death begs for the love of his people and for him to stopFrancis said, Addressed Putin in public for the first timeBut without mentioning his name.

The pontiff replaced the catechesis of the Angelus with this reflection, in which he invited the world to seek “Diplomatic instruments“stop it”Intense, destructive and menacing” conflict and encouraged the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskya “Be open to radical peace initiatives”.

Francis, looking out the window of the Apostolic Palace, agreed “Deep pain“It makes you”Rivers of blood and tears sing these months”, “thousands of victims, especially children” and “many destructions that left many people and families homeless; and threaten vast territories with cold and hunger.

“What about humanity facing a nuclear threat again? This is nonsense. What else needs to happen? How much more blood must be spilled before we understand that war is never the solution, only destruction?” he questioned.

The Pope asked them to come.”An immediate ceasefire“, “We must silence the weapons and seek the conditions for opening negotiations capable of leading to agreed, just and sustainable solutions, without the imposition of force”.

These, he pointed out, “They must be based on the sacred value of human life, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.as well as the rights of minorities and their legitimate concerns”.

He also strongly condemnedA serious situation has been created in recent days by new measures that are contrary to the principles of international law”, such as the Russian annexation of the four Ukrainian regions not mentioned by Francis.

These actions, in his opinion, “Increases the risk of nuclear proliferation To fear uncontrollable and catastrophic consequences globally.

In addition to addressing Putin and Zelensky, his appeal “All protagonists of international lifeSo they are “doing everything possible to encourage and support dialogue initiatives to end the ongoing war without being drawn into dangerous escalations”.

“Please, let the young generation breathe the healthy air of peace and not the polluted air of war. After seven months of war, let all diplomatic tools be usedAnd to those who have not been used so far to end this great tragedy,” he concluded.

Francis has always been concerned about the war in Ukraine, valued a trip to that country, and on this occasion he decided to dedicate the entire Angelus to thinking about this problem, something that rarely happens, last 2013. Ask for peace in Syria.

(with information from EFE)

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