Pope Francis once again addressed Catholics around the world and called on them to pray for an end to hostilities in Ukraine.
According to the pontiff, the day before he received a rosary and a Gospel that belonged to a young Ukrainian soldier who died at the front near Avdiivka.
This was reported by the Vatican press service.
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– At that moment I thought that this young man was praying using them (rosary and Gospel — Ed.). So many, so many young people are going to die, — lamented the Pope, speaking to his congregation in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
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He also noted that any war — this is madness and, no matter what happens, represents defeat.
War in Ukraine — Pope's position
Throughout the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the head of the Catholic Church has repeatedly made controversial and sometimes scandalous statements.
So, the other day Francis said that the strongest must raise the white flag, which most Ukrainians took as a call to surrender to the invaders.
As a result, representatives of the Holy See in the Vatican even had to, if not justify themselves, then explain that the pontiff meant only the high importance of diplomatic negotiations.
