Pope Francis Rallies World To Support Ukraine After Putin’s Massacre

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Pope Francis has once again joined those standing with Ukraine as the country attempts to fight off the invasion recently launched by Russia’s Vladimir Putin. On Wednesday, the Pope addressed recently uncovered Russian atrocities in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv — in Bucha, which Russian forces occupied and controlled until recently, hundreds of civilians were killed. Some of those who died had their hands tied, and torture has been reported. The violence was indiscriminate — corpses were found laying on the side of the road and amid routine scenes of everyday life. Francis received a flag that he said came from Bucha; he kissed the flag and called for an end to the war.

The Pope told those assembled that “ever more horrendous cruelties [are occurring], even against civilians, women, and helpless children. They are victims whose innocent blood cries out to heaven and implores… May this war cease! May weapons fall silent. Stop sowing death and destruction.” He also remarked that “recent news from the war in Ukraine, instead of bringing relief and hope, brought new atrocities, such as the massacre of Bucha.” On the same occasion, the Pope honored a group of children who were among the millions of refugees to have fled Ukraine amid the fighting there. “These children had to flee in order to arrive in a safe land. This is the fruit of war. Let’s not forget them and let’s not forget the Ukrainian people,” Francis said. The Pope recently indicated that he was contemplating heading to Kyiv. The administrative area around the Ukrainian capital was recently cleared of Russian forces, but threats of airstrikes across Ukraine are continuing — although the clean-up and reconstruction process is beginning in liberated areas. The Lithuanian ambassador to Ukraine was also recently announced to be returning to Kyiv.

Since images of Russian atrocities in Bucha and nearby areas have circulated across the world, other new steps against the Putin regime have included the expulsions of dozens of Russian diplomats from countries including Lithuania, Denmark, Italy, and Spain. Other countries, like Poland, already expelled substantial numbers of Russian diplomatic personnel in response to the war in Ukraine. Danish intelligence concluded this year that the Russian embassy in their country featured multiple individuals on staff who were involved in espionage work for the Russian government. Authorities in Denmark “want to send a clear signal to Russia that espionage on Danish soil is unacceptable,” the country’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod remarked. As for the removals of Russian personnel from Italy, that country’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said the “measure is in agreement with other European and Atlantic partners and is necessary for reasons linked to our national security and in the context of the current crisis caused by the unjustified aggression against Ukraine on the part of the Russian Federation.” Other countries’ explanations were similar.