Papal mediation not possible due to Vatican’s bias towards Kremlin, says Podolyak

Pope Francis cannot serve as a mediator in talks between Ukraine and Russia due to his perceived pro-Russian stance, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the President’s Office, told Ukrainian television’s 24 Kanal on Sept. 8.

“It makes no sense to consider Pope Francis as a mediator when his pro-Russian position is unmistakable,” Podolyak said.

“This is not the first time, but initially, they tried to obscure it. They pretended as though we didn’t notice, but today it’s evident that he holds a pro-Russian stance.”

Read also: Lithuania summons Vatican ambassador after Pope Francis praises Russian Empire

Podolyak emphasized the adverse impact of this stance on the ongoing conflict, saying, “We cannot expect impartial assessments of this war or a fair model of behavior from the Vatican.”

He also said there was a need for closer scrutiny of Russia’s investments in the Vatican bank, adding, “We must delve deeper into this matter.”

Read also: What the Pope actually told Russians

In late August, Pope Francis addressed Russian Catholic youth, urging them “not to forget the heritage of their great, enlightened empire” and mentioning historical figures such as Peter the Great, the founder of the Russian empire, and Catherine the Great, who expanded the Russian empire’s territory by means of war.

The declaration sparked outrage in Ukraine, prompting the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to label the Pope’s words as imperialistic propaganda used by the Kremlin to justify the suffering of thousands of Ukrainians and the destruction of numerous towns and villages.

In response, the Vatican representative in Ukraine swiftly rejected these interpretations, saying that “Pope Francis categorically rejects the aforementioned interpretations, as he has never advocated imperialistic ideas” and that he remains their “critic.”

The Vatican assured that Francis did not endorse imperialism in his address but aimed to “encourage young people to preserve and develop the positive aspects of the rich Russian cultural and spiritual heritage.”

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine