Pope Francis defended this Thursday (15th) that it is morally legitimate for Western countries to supply weapons to Ukraine, so that Kiev can defend itself against Russian aggression.
To journalists on the plane returning from a trip to Kazakhstan, the pontiff also urged Volodymyr Zelensky’s country to be open to dialogue. Francis had already addressed the conflict in Eastern Europe at length in speeches at the conference of religious leaders he attended in Nursultan.
It was during the roughly 45-minute conversation that a reporter asked whether it would be morally acceptable for countries to send weapons to Ukraine — one of Kiev’s top requests since the start of the war more than 200 days ago, which has been heeded by nations such as the United States and members of the European Union.
“This is a political decision, which can be morally acceptable if made under certain conditions of morality,” said Francis, who later laid out the Catholic Church’s “just war” principles that would allow the proportional use of weapons for self-defense. against an aggressor nation.
“Self-defense is not only lawful but an expression of love for the homeland. Someone who doesn’t defend himself, who doesn’t defend something, doesn’t love that thing. Whoever defends him, loves him.”
Further clarifying the issue, the pope said it was immoral to provide weapons if the intention was to provoke more war. “Motivation is what largely qualifies the morality of that action,” he said.
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