Pope Francis Views Mediation Between Ukraine and Russia as Currently Unfeasible
The leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, expressed his perspective regarding the possibility of the Vatican acting as a neutral mediator in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
According to him, such a role is currently considered highly unlikely, despite the Holy See’s repeated calls for peace.
In an interview with the American Catholic publication Crux, the Pope drew a clear line between the Holy See’s vocal appeal for peace and its role as a mediator.
He emphasized that these are two fundamentally different approaches, and at this moment, the latter seems considerably less realistic.
The pontiff underscored that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Vatican has been exerting considerable efforts to maintain its neutrality.
He stated that the Holy See strives to abstain from taking sides, aiming to remain as objective and neutral as possible amidst the complex situation.
Regarding the idea of hosting negotiations either in the Vatican or another church setting, he acknowledged awareness of all possible consequences.
The Pope stressed that currently, mediating is not a practical or feasible option; rather, pressure from multiple parties must build to encourage the conflicting sides to pause and engage in dialogue.
Meanwhile, he urged faith in human nature, emphasizing that hope should never be abandoned.
According to him, human beings possess both good and evil tendencies, and temptations exist everywhere.
It remains crucial to continually promote higher values and prevent dark forces from overshadowing our capacity for compassion and peace.