Pope Francis provoked reactions as during the All-Russian Catholic Youth Meeting in Saint Petersburg on Friday he encouraged the Russian youth not to abandon their “inheritance” as heirs of a “great, enlightened Russian empire.”

“Never abandon this heritage, you are the heirs of the great Mother Russia, go forward with her,” Pope Francis said.

During the speech, an excerpt of which was posted online, according to POLITICO the pope also invoked former Russian emperors Peter I and Catherine II, two rulers who played a decisive role in the expansion of Russia’s conquests in Europe and who are known as symbols of Russian imperialism.

“You are the heirs of great Russia: the great Russia of saints, kings, of the great Russia of Peter the Great, of Catherine II, of this great, enlightened Russian empire, of great culture and great humanity,” he said.

The comments have sparked outrage online, with many criticizing the Pope’s decision to praise Russia’s imperial past, especially considering the Kremlin’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

However, in the rest of his address, posted online by the Vatican, the Pope tells Russian youth to be “craftsmen of peace” and to “sow the seeds of reconciliation”.

Pope Francis has repeatedly criticizes the Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling for an end to the conflict. But he has also made some controversial remarks, seemingly blaming NATO for the conflict, and refused to denounce Putin by name.