Pope Francis spoke of the “martyrs” suffered by Ukraine: “The cruel ones are from Russia…Chechens and Buryats”

The Pope Francisco Referring to Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukrainian territory this Monday, “Cruelty” raid was carried out by soldiers Vladimir Putin And the main culprits in the race are “Chechens and Buryats”. “When I talk about Ukraine, I’m talking about a martyred people. If there are martyrs, there is someone who will sacrifice them,” he said. The Pope.

In a detailed conversation with the representatives of the edition American magazine, Francisco noted: “When I talk about Ukraine, I talk about brutality, because I have a lot of information about the brutality of the troops entering. Generally, cruel people are probably from Russia but not of Russian heritage, ie Chechens, Buryats, etc.”. The Buryats were Russians from that area Siberia and were heavily recruited by the Russian military.

“Of course, the Russian government is invading. It is very clear. I try not to be specific so as not to offend and generally rebuke, even though I sometimes know exactly who I am reprimanding. You do not need to enter your first and last name“, he said Father Consulted by Jesuit Publishing.

In addition, the Vatican head of state indicated that he would make permanent diplomatic efforts with Russian and Ukrainian authorities to find a path to peace again. “On the second day of the war, I went to the Russian embassy (in front of the Vatican), an unusual gesture because the Pope never goes to an embassy. There I told the ambassador to Putin that I was ready to travel on the condition that he would allow me a small window to negotiate. The top foreign minister Sergey Lavrov replied to me with a nice letter, from which I understood that it was not needed at the moment.

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The Pope took time to clarify why Putin is not usually mentioned in references to the war in Ukraine, which he has widely criticized. “Why don’t I mention Putin’s name? Because it doesn’t need to; you know However, sometimes people get stuck on a detail. Everyone knows my position, with or without Putin, without naming him”.

Francis allowed himself to remember that these days were the anniversary of one of the most dramatic scenes of the last century, the genocide against the Ukrainians. Joseph StalinKnown as Holotomer In 1932 and 1933. “I would like to mention that these days are the anniversary of the Holodomor, the genocide committed by Stalin against the Ukrainians. I think it is appropriate to mention the historical background of (this) conflict. The position of the Holy See is to seek peace and understanding. The Holy See’s diplomacy is moving in this direction and, of course, it is always ready to mediate. .

China and dialogue

In another part of the interview, the Pope addressed the Vatican’s controversial relationship with the regime Beijing It persecuted Catholics to the point of imprisoning many of their representatives. Francisco considers, “It is not a problem of speaking or being silent. It is not reality. Reality is dialogue or not dialogue. And a dialogue as much as one can”.

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“I have chosen the dialogue path with China. It’s slow, it has its failures and its successes, but I can’t see any other way. I want to underline this: Chinese people are very wise and they deserve my respect and admiration, Shabu. That’s why I’m trying to speak, because we’re going to win people over, no. There are Christians there, and you must take care that they are good Chinese and good Christians. Conversation always opens doors”, he concluded.

Abortion

When asked about the politicization of abortion America – from the end of Supreme Court On that day Roe vs. Wade– and on whether the bishops should prioritize the issue in relation to other issues of social justice, Francis emphasized: “In any book on embryology, just before the month of conception, it is said that the organs in the small fetus. Already drawn and DNA. Before the mother knows. Therefore, it is a living being. Man. I don’t say a person, because that’s controversial, but a man. And I ask myself two questions. Is it fair to eliminate a man to solve a problem? Second question: Is it fair to hire a hitman to solve a problem?

to him The Pope, “The problem is when this reality of killing a man becomes a political problem. Or when a church pastor falls into a political category. Every time a problem loses its pasture, the problem becomes a political problem. And it becomes political rather than pastoral. In other words, don’t let anyone accept that truth as universal. It is not from such party or such party. It is universal. When we see a problem like crime taking on such a strong political intensity, I’d say the approach to this problem is lacking in pastoral care. Whether in this abortion issue or in other issues, we must not forget the shepherd: a bishop is a shepherd, a diocese is the holy faithful people of God with its shepherd. We cannot treat this as a civil matter.