Some of the main political forces in Italy and sectors of the Vatican have criticized the US president, Joe Biden, for the recent statements made about his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, of whom, among other things, he said that “he cannot remain in the power”.
Former Prime Minister and Secretary General of the Italian Democratic Party, Enrico Letta, wrote on Twitter that Biden’s speech made last Saturday in Warsaw “was perhaps the one expected in Poland”, but “doubts and questions arose that should be clarified quickly”.
For his part, the leader of the Acción party, Carlo Calenda, described the White House tenant’s words as “irresponsible.” “It seems to me that even the most pro-Atlantic (like me) must admit that the way in which Biden talks about Russia is dangerous and irresponsible. He goes from one blunder to another without problems since before the start of the conflict in Ukraine,” he tweeted.
Senator Paola Binetti spoke along the same lines. “Biden’s tones are certainly excessive and inappropriate for those who really want peace more than anything else,” said the legislator for the Union Center movement.
“Religion is not exploited for political purposes”
Likewise, Antonio Spadaro, director of La Civiltà Cattolica, the paraofficial Vatican magazine, criticized Joe Biden for using a quote from Polish Pope John Paul II for political purposes during his speech in Warsaw. “Don’t be afraid,” the US president said to urge a change of power in Russia. That famous phrase was said by John Paul II in October 1978, at the beginning of his pontificate.
“Religion is not exploited for political ends,” Spadaro noted. “Referring to faith to justify one’s actions is a clear exploitation,” lamented the director of La Civiltà Cattolica.
Following Biden’s words, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington does not have “a regime change strategy for Russia.”
The US president himself later declared that he did not ask for a change of leadership in Russia when he said that Putin “cannot stay in power”.
