(TheRedAlertNews.com) – In a new controversial message, the second within a couple of weeks, Pope Francis has issued a call to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza through negotiations – as though it was up to the attacked parties, US allies Ukraine and Israel, and not to the aggressors – Putin’s Russia and the Hamas terrorists.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church reiterated his plea for dialogue to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza during his weekly Vatican audience, amidst a backdrop of criticism for his previous comments on “raising the white flag,” which had incited significant discontent in Ukraine.
The 87-year-old Pontiff directed his concern towards the citizens of “the beleaguered Ukraine and of the Holy Land, encompassing Palestine and Israel, who endure the severe tribulations of war.”
“Let us never forget, war is always a defeat. We cannot progress amidst conflict. It is imperative that we exhaust all avenues for conversation and negotiation,” he stated, as cited by Insider Paper.
The Pope’s remarks during an earlier interview this month, where he commended those willing to “have the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate” regarding Ukraine, had provoked vehement backlash.
Ukraine, which has been resisting the full-scale military invasion of Putin’s Russia for over two years now, was angry, leading to the recall of the Vatican’s representative and a declaration that it would “never” capitulate.
At first, earlier this month, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Vatican’s ambassador in Kyiv for an explanation.
“Due to the statements of Pope Francis, the Apostolic Nuncio was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine,” announced the ministry via social media, referring to the Vatican diplomat.
It was conveyed to Envoy Visvaldas Kulbodas that Kyiv was “disappointed with the words of the Pontiff regarding the ‘white flag’.”
The Ministry further criticized that the Pope’s statements “encourage them (Russia) to further disregard international law.”
“The head of the Holy See should have sent signals to the international community about the need to immediately unite forces to ensure the victory of good over evil, as well as appealed to the attacker, not the victim,” it added.
Ukraine was infuriated by the Pope’s comments in a TV interview, as follows,
“I believe that the strongest are those who observe the situation, contemplate the welfare of the people, and possess the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate.”
This was not the first instance of Kyiv’s discontentment with the Pope’s remarks amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion spanning two years.
