Ukraine, Pope: ” Third world war underway for global interests and arms sales ”

Published on The print an excerpt from Pope Francis ‘conversation with the 10 directors of the Society of Jesus’ European cultural magazines

In Ukraine “something global is emerging, with elements that are very intertwined“. Like this Pope francesco during the conversation with the 10 directors of the European cultural magazines of the Society of Jesus. An audience held at the private library of the Apostolic Palace which was also joined by father Antonio Spadaro, head of La Civiltà Cattolica, three lay directors – two of whom are women (for the Swiss and English magazines) -, and the remaining Jesuits. This morning an excerpt was published between the columns of The print. Many themes were addressed, from spirituality to faith, from the role of young people to the current conflict in Ukraine: a central theme on which the Pontiff wanted to point out his opinion.

A couple of months before the war started – he said – I met a head of state, a wise man, who speaks little, very wise indeed. And after talking about the things he wanted to talk about, he told me that he was very worried about how NATO was moving. I asked him why, and he replied: ‘They are barking at the gates of Russia. And they don’t understand that the Russians are imperial and don’t allow any foreign power to get close to them. ‘ He concluded: ‘The situation could lead to war’. This was his opinion. The war began on February 24. That head of state was able to read the signs of what was happening“.

The citty by Mykolaiv (Ukraine) bombed by the Russians

In the current times, the Pope would risk being accused of being pro-Putin, but this is not the case. Indeed, he distances himself from it by condemning his actions. However, his is a holistic analysis that does not focus on a single point of view but tries to have an overview of the ongoing war in Ukraine. “It would be simplistic and wrong to call myself in favor of Putin – continues the Pope –. I am simply against reducing complexity to the distinction between good and bad, without thinking about roots and interests, which are very complex. While we see the ferocity, the cruelty of the Russian troops, we must not forget the problems to try to solve them“.

The Holy Father sees a danger. “I fear we only see the brutality and ferocity with which this war is waged by the troops, generally mercenary, used by the Russians and we do not see the whole drama that is unfolding behind this war, which was perhaps somehow or provoked or not prevented“. It’s still: “I register an interest in testing and selling weapons. It is very sad, but basically this is what is at stake“. Strong and precise words with which, once again, the Pope takes sides against the superpowers and the war industries. Words that, for that feeble and rhetorical part of the Church, may seem heretical. But, as the story of Joan of Arc and Giordano Bruno teaches, being heretics against hypocritical respectability is synonymous with justice. Especially if the danger facing humanity “it is a situation of world war, global interests, arms sales and geopolitical appropriation, which is martyring a heroic people”, The Pope said.

Photo © Imagoeconomica

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Ukraine, Pope: ” Third world war underway for global interests and arms sales ”