“My appeal is first and foremost to the President of the Russian Federation, begging him to stop, at least out of love for his people, this spiral of violence and death,” the Pope said.
“On the other hand, grieved by the enormous suffering of the Ukrainian population due to the aggression, I send the same confidence-filled appeal to the president of Ukraine to be open to serious peace proposals.”
He stated that negotiations should not be imposed by force, and the decisions taken should be fair and stable and consistent with the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries.
“How much more blood must be shed for us to understand that war is never a solution, but only annihilation?” Francis said.
“I repeat the call to immediately achieve a ceasefire. Let the weapons fall silent and look for conditions that will help start negotiations that can lead to solutions that aren’t imposed by force, but agreed, just and stable. They will be so if they are based on respect for the sacred value of human life, as well as for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.”
The Pope also appealed to all active figures in international life and political leaders of countries with a request to do everything in their power to end the war.
“After seven months of hostilities, let all diplomatic means, even those that may not have been used so far, be put into action to put an end to this huge tragedy,” he said. “War itself is a mistake and a horror.” /Argumentum.al
