Pope Francis, the head of the Vatican, stated that the war in Ukraine is driven by the interests of various "empires" and not just Russia. In an interview with the Italian-language television station of Swiss Radio and Television (RSI), excerpts of which were published by Italian newspapers on Friday, the leader of the Catholic Church observed that the conflict has been intensified by "colonial interests, not just due to the Russian empire, but because of other empires as well." The Pope expressed his willingness to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to advocate for peace.
On another note, Pope Francis, who is 86 years old and will mark his tenth anniversary of election on March 13, hinted that he might resign if he feels too fatigued and loses his ability to lead the Catholic Church. Last month, Pope Francis mentioned that a papal resignation should only occur under exceptional circumstances. When asked what might lead him to make such a decision, he replied, "Severe fatigue prevents you from seeing things clearly. A lack of clarity that robs you of the ability to assess situations." The Pope also stated that he feels "somewhat embarrassed" using a wheelchair due to a knee injury. He added, "I am old and have less physical endurance, and the knee injury is a source of embarrassment for me, even though recovery is currently going well."
Pope Benedict XVI, who passed away at the age of ninety-five on December 31, became the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years when he stepped down in 2013.
