Pope Francis condemned this Wednesday the “horrendous cruelty” that hits Ukraine, “including its civilians”, referring to the “Bucha massacre”.
“The latest news from the war in Ukraine (…) shows new atrocities, such as the Bucha massacre, [muestran] a horrendous cruelty, also committed against civilians, women and children,” Francis said after his general audience.
“They are victims whose innocent blood cries out to heaven and implores us to put an end to this war, to silence the weapons, to stop sowing death and destruction,” the pope added.
Minutes later, the pope unfurled a Ukrainian flag before the thousands of faithful gathered in the Paul VI room. “This flag comes from the war, from the martyred city, Bucha,” Francis said, in the presence of several Ukrainian children and before kissing the visibly blackened flag.
It is the first statement by the pope after the recent discovery of dozens of bodies in Bucha, at the gates of kyiv, after the withdrawal of Russian troops. The images have caused international shock and rejection.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has accused Russian forces of killing civilians in Bucha, but the Kremlin has denied any responsibility and says the images are staged.
During his audience, Francis also lamented the “impotence of international organizations” in the face of the conflict.
“After World War II we tried to lay the foundations for a new history of peace, but unfortunately, the old history of rival powers has been perpetuated. And in the current war in Ukraine we are witnessing the impotence of international organizations,” he said. the pope, who has said he is willing to go to kyiv.
