Ukraine's Eastern Rite Catholic bishops echoed Podolyak's comments.

Podolyak firmly rejected any notion of the Vatican mediating in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine and hinted at possible Russian influence within the Vatican bank.

Podolyak's criticism stems from Pope Francis' remarks during a video conference with Russian Catholic youth in St Petersburg, where the Pope praised the legacy of "Great Mother Russia."

Despite the Pope's subsequent clarification that he was referring to culture rather than imperialism, Podolyak remained unconvinced.

He argued that the Pope's position in effect supports Russia's actions in Ukraine, which are causing harm to Ukrainian citizens.

Furthermore, Podolyak suggested that financial considerations may be influencing the Pope's stance, hinting at potential Russian investments in the Vatican bank.

However, no specific evidence was provided to support this claim.

Disappointment and pain

While Pope Francis has expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people throughout the conflict, he has refrained from directly condemning Russia or President Vladimir Putin.

This approach has not only drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials but also disappointed members of his Catholic flock in Ukraine.

The bishops of Ukraine's Greek Catholic Church, the largest of the Eastern churches in communion with Rome, have voiced concerns about the Pope's statements. They expressed disappointment and pain over the Pope's remarks.

The bishops believe the comments are being exploited by Russian propaganda to justify its actions in Ukraine.

The bishops' statement said they told the pope that certain statements and gestures of "the Holy See and Your Holiness are painful and difficult for the Ukrainian people, who are currently bleeding in the struggle for their dignity and independence."

The statement quoted the pope as telling the bishops: "The fact that you doubted whom the pope is with was particularly painful for the Ukrainian people. I want to assure you of my solidarity with you and constant prayerful closeness. I am with the Ukrainian people."

Sources

Crux Now

AP News

Reuters

CathNews New Zealand

The pope's comments were made during a video conference with Russian Catholic youth, where his comments were misconstrued as an endorsement of present-day Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesperson, emphasised that Pope Francis had aimed to laud the positive aspects of Russia's spiritual and cultural history rather than endorse contemporary Russian imperialism.

Francis "certainly didn't want to exalt imperialistic logic or government personalities who were cited to indicate certain historic periods of reference," Bruni said in a statement.

The Pope's accolades for historical figures like Peter and Catherine the Great were meant to highlight Russia's cultural heritage and its distinctive "Russian-ness."

In a prepared text, Pope Francis encouraged the young Russian audience to be champions of peace and reconciliation. However, he stressed the importance of remembering their heritage during his impromptu remarks.

"Never forget your inheritance. You are the heirs of the great Russia. The great Russia of the saints, of the kings, of the great Russia of Peter the Great, of Catherine II, that great imperial Russia, cultivated, with so much culture and humanity," Francis said, according to the video clip.

"…You are the heirs of the great Mother Russia, go forward. And thank you. Thank you for your way of being, for your way of being Russian."

The Vatican didn't publish the comments, but they were shared on social media following Francis' video conference with a Catholic youth encounter in St Petersburg.

Pope's comments praised and criticised

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, praised Pope Francis' nuanced understanding of Russian history. Peskov also noted that Russian educational institutions were actively engaging in efforts to educate younger generations about their heritage.

The head of Ukraine's Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, registered strong dissatisfaction with the Pope's statements, interpreting them as an endorsement of nationalism and Russian imperialism that have contributed to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Shevchuk's response highlighted the association between the Pope's comments and the distressing implications for the war-torn region.

The Vatican's embassy in Kyiv promptly distanced itself from these interpretations, affirming that Pope Francis did not advocate imperialistic ideas. The embassy's statement emphasised the Pope's consistent stance against imperialism and colonialism in all forms and contexts.

This incident isn't the first time Pope Francis has faced criticism for his comments on the Ukraine conflict. The Pope has previously sparked both outrage and agreement with his spontaneous remarks.

On one occasion, Francis appeared to rationalise Russia's actions by highlighting NATO's expansion towards Russia's borders.

Conversely, the pontiff also drew Moscow's ire when he appeared to place blame on ethnic minorities rather than Russian forces for the severity of the conflict.

Sources

Religion News

CNBC

CathNews New Zealand