what is the scope of the Pope’s voice in the conflict?

In front of a crowded Saint Peter’s Square (Vatican), on Sunday April 17, Pope Francis once again called for peace between Ukraine and Russia. “In this terrible night of suffering and death, may a new dawn of hope soon appear. May there be a decision for peace, may there be an end to the flailing of muscles while people suffer”declared the sovereign pontiff.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis has multiplied actions and calls for peace. Friday, April 15, during his Stations of the Cross, he was accompanied by two women, a Ukrainian and a Russian. But this initiative was strongly criticized by the Ukrainians who found it offensive. Faced with these criticisms, the Pope’s entourage explained in the Italian press that he was not involved in politics and acted to bring people together, as required by his function.