Pope Francis condemned wars once again on Wednesday, following backlash from Kyiv and Western capitals over what seemed to be an indication of the necessity for Ukraine to surrender and engage in peace talks with Russia. The Pope told the Swiss network (RSI) that Ukraine should "have the courage of the white flag" and negotiate with Russia; however, his deputy, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, clarified in an interview the previous Tuesday that Russia must first stop its aggression.
During his weekly address in St. Peter's Square, the Pope stated, "Many young people are dying (in the war). Let us pray to the Lord to grant us the grace to overcome this obsession with wars, which is always a downfall." He did not specifically mention Ukraine or any other war zones, but noted that he had previously received a rosary and a copy of the Gospel belonging to a man who was killed at an unspecified war front.
Francis (87 years old), who is experiencing health issues related to movement and respiratory functions, spoke briefly for the third consecutive week in front of attendees of the weekly meeting, delegating most of the pre-written texts to one of his aides to read. He informed the audience that he is still suffering from "a cold."
