![Gorbachev St John Paul appreciation](https://i0.wp.com/cathnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Pope-JP2-Gorbachev.jpg?resize=150%2C113&ssl=1)
Pope Francis on Wednesday praised former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev as a far-sighted statesman who was committed to improving relations among nations. In a message to Irina, Gorbachev’s daughter, Francis said he was “spiritually close in his moment of pain”. He called her father an “esteemed statesman,” and said he was grateful for Gorbachev’s “far-sighted Read more