Politicians and commentators in Europe have expressed outrage after Pope Francis in an interview appeared to place the onus on Ukraine to make peace.
In the interview broadcast by Swiss television, which the Vatican said was conducted in February, the Pontiff urged parties in the Ukraine war to “have the courage to negotiate.”
When asked about a debate within Ukraine on whether to surrender to Russia’s invasion, the Pope remarked, “I believe that the strongest are those who see the situation, think about the people, and have the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate,” he said.
He added, “That word, negotiate, is a brave word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not working out, to have the courage to negotiate.”
Pope Francis said that Ukrainians should not be afraid to negotiate a peace deal before the situation deteriorates any further.
“Today, for example with the war in Ukraine, there are many who want to act as mediators. Turkey for example. Don’t be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse.”
Pope Francis
Speaking about conflict in general, including the Israel-Gaza war, the Pope added, “Negotiations are never a surrender. It is the courage not to carry a country to suicide.”
The Ukrainian government responded to this and vowed never to surrender.
“Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said on social media on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
Kuleba called on the Pontiff to stand “on the side of good” and not put Russia and Ukraine “on the same footing and call it ‘negotiations’.”
He also appeared to reference collaboration between some of the Catholic church and Nazi forces during the second world war.
“At the same time, when it comes to the white flag, we know this Vatican strategy from the first half of the 20th century. I urge to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to support Ukraine and its people in their just struggle for their lives.”
Dmytro Kuleba
Also, Latvian President, Edgars Rinkēvičs, posted on X, “My Sunday morning take: One must not capitulate in [the] face of evil, one must fight it and defeat it, so that the evil raises the white flag and capitulates.”
In addition, Dennis Radtke, a German Christian Democrat MEP, said the word “shameful” could be used to describe the Pope’s comments.
“His stance on Ukraine reflects poorly on his pontificate. It is incomprehensible,” Radtke added.
Anton Gerashchenko, a blogger and former Adviser to Ukraine’s internal affairs ministry, posted on X, “It does seem strange that the Pope doesn’t urge to defend Ukraine, doesn’t condemn Russia as an aggressor who killed tens of thousands of people, doesn’t urge Putin to stop, but calls on Ukraine to raise the white flag instead.”
“Do all his Cardinals share this position?” he asked.
Moreover, Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, wrote on X, “How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine?”
He added, “Peace would immediately ensue without the need for negotiations.”
Alexandra Valkenburg, Head of the EU delegation to the Holy See, also noted on X that Russia “can end this war immediately by respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
She said that the EU supported Ukraine and its peace plan.
Vatican Clarifies Pope’s Remarks
The Vatican’s Director of communications, Matteo Bruni, issued a statement seeking to clarify the Pope’s words.
He explained that Pope Francis used the term, “white flag” to indicate “a cessation of hostilities, a truce reached with the courage of negotiation.”
He repeated the Pontiff’s call for a “diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace” in what Francis called the “martyred” Ukraine.
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