ROME – There has been a significant backlash from both Ukrainian civil and ecclesial authorities in the wake of a recent interview Pope Francis gave in which the pontiff appeared to imply that Ukraine ought to consider the “white flag” option and opening negotiations to end the ongoing war with Russia.
Speaking while visiting the Ukrainian Greek Catholic parish of Saint George in New York during a visit to the US, the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) said in response to the Pope’s remarks that “in Ukraine no one has the possibility of surrendering”.
“Ukraine is wounded but undefeated; Ukraine is exhausted but remains standing,” Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said, also telling those who are skeptical about Ukraine’s ability to continue resisting Russia’s military offensive to “come to Ukraine and see!”
Similarly, the Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See responded to the Pope’s comments:
“When we speak about a third world war, which we have now, it is necessary to learn from the Second [World] War: did anyone then seriously talk about negotiating peace with Hitler and the white flag to satisfy him?”
The lesson to be learned, the Ukrainian embassy says, is that “if we want to end the war, we must do everything to kill the Dragon!” The embassy also said that “it is very important to be consistent”.
On 9 March, a new papal interview was published by Swiss broadcaster RSI that was previously recorded on 2 Feb., and which is expected to be broadcast in full on 20 March.
During the interview, Pope Francis was asked about the debate between those who say Ukraine ought to raise a “white flag” as it has not been able to overcome Russia’s forces, and those who object that doing so would legitimise Russia’s actions.
The Pope’s comments included talk of having the courage to negotiate and considering when it is the right time for showing a “white flag” of truce.
In response to the Pope’s remarks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba authored a post on social media platform X saying that Ukraine’s flag “is yellow and blue”.
“This is our flag with which we live, die and conquer. We will never raise other flags,” he said, while also voicing gratitude to the Pope for his continual prayers for peace in Ukraine. The minister said he still hopes the Pope will be able to visit Ukraine to support local Catholics and those impacted by the war.
Kremlin spokesperson Maria Zakharova spoke to Italian media following the Pope’s remarks, suggesting the pontiff was not speaking to Kyiv, but to the West, which she said is using Ukraine as “an instrument” of its “ambitions”.
“The way I see it, the Pope is asking the West to put aside its ambitions and admit that it was wrong,” she said, adding: “every expert, every diplomat today understands” that the situation in Ukraine “is at a dead end” and hence, she claims, many countries and international leaders have asked for negotiations.
The Christian Association of Ukrainians in Italy called the Pope’s remarks “shocking, embarrassing, and deeply offensive”.
In a 10 March statement, the bishops of the Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who are currently meeting in the United States, voiced their concerns about the Pope’s comments, while appearing to offer the pontiff the benefit of the doubt after Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni attempted to smooth things over following the backlash.
Bruni issuing a statement on 9 March highlighting that the term “white flag” had been initially brought up by the interviewer, and that Pope Francis had simply repeated it “to indicate a cessation of hostilities and a truce reached with the courage of negotiations”, and that the Pope’s “hope is a diplomatic solution for a just and lasting peace”.
In their statement, the Ukrainian synod noted that the Pope’s remark about the “white flag”, as indicated by Bruni, was a summons to negotiation and not to surrender, and that the Pope had also spoken of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
“Ukrainians cannot surrender because surrender means death,” the synod said. “The intentions of Putin and Russia are clear and explicit. The aims are not those of one individual,” they also said, arguing that 70 per cent of Russian citizen are “clear and explicit” in their support for “the genocidal war against Ukraine”.
In light of suggestions from Pope Francis, along with other international figures, that Ukraine open itself to negotiations, the synod said that, regardless of such calls, “Ukrainians will continue to defend freedom and dignity to achieve a peace that is just”.
“They believe in freedom and God-given human dignity,” the synod said. “They believe in truth, God’s truth. They are convinced that God’s truth will prevail.”
Photo: Pope Francis at the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter’s square during his Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, 10 March 2024. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images.)
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