In a video conference with Catholic youth in St. Petersburg, Russia, Pope Francis delivered comments that praised the 18th-century Russian rulers and their contribution to the creation of Great Russia. This empire, which President Vladimir V. Putin has referenced in relation to the invasion of Ukraine, was described by the Pope as a great, enlightened, and culturally rich civilization. The remarks were not included in the Vatican’s official release of the Pope’s prepared speech, but a later video clip showed him making these additional comments.
During his address, Pope Francis urged the audience to remember history and their connection to the legacy of Great Russia. However, these statements received criticism from Ukraine and other countries near Russia that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, expressed disappointment and stated that the Pope’s remarks reflected the grand-state ideas that have fueled Russia’s chronic aggression. The former Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, also condemned the comments as “truly revolting.”
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, issued a statement expressing pain and disappointment caused by the Pope’s remarks. He called for the Holy See to provide clarification to prevent any misinterpretation.
President Putin, who has invoked the idea of rebuilding the Russian empire in relation to the invasion of Ukraine, has portrayed the conflict as a response to the war unleashed by the West. This aligns with his previous comparisons of himself to Peter the Great.
The Vatican’s official statement emphasized that the Pope’s words should not be seen as a political stance, but rather as a defense of human life and its values. The Pope has consistently condemned the war as morally unjust and repugnant.
In the early stages of the conflict, Pope Francis maintained neutrality and refrained from overtly criticizing the Russian president or Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, who supported the war. However, in May, after a video conference with Kirill, the Pope warned him not to align himself too closely with Putin.
To promote peace, the Pope sent Cardinal Matteo Zuppi as a peace envoy to facilitate talks in Ukraine, Russia, and the United States over the summer.
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