Pope Francis says in an interview published today in an Italian newspaper that he has requested a meeting in Moscow with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin to try to stop the war in Ukraine, but has not received a response.
The pope also told Corriere Della Sera that Moscow Patriarch Cyril, who has offered his full support to the war, “can not become Putin’s grandson.”
The pope, who paid an unprecedented visit to the Russian embassy when the war broke out, also told the Italian newspaper that about three weeks after the conflict began, he asked his top diplomat. Vatican to send a message to Putin.
The message was, according to Pope Francis, “that I intend to go to Moscow. It was certainly necessary for the Kremlin leader to allow an opening. We have not yet received a response and we still insist.”
The pope added: “I am afraid that Putin can not and does not want to have this meeting at the moment. But how can you not stop so brutal?”
Prior to the interview, the 85-year-old Francis had not specifically mentioned Russia or Putin publicly since the war broke out on February 24. However, he has left little doubt as to which side he is criticizing, using terms such as unwarranted attack and invasion, and expressing his sorrow for atrocities against civilians.
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