In Kyiv, Pope Francis left a bitter taste: "He didn't understand"

While the whole world mourns Pope Francis, in Ukraine, the mood is one of disappointment.

Indeed, for many Ukrainians, certain statements by Pope Francis still resonate and leave a bitter taste. The pontiff had notably called on Kyiv to raise the “white flag” in the face of the Russian aggressor. Furthermore, the late Pope, who passed away last Monday, had never clearly positioned himself regarding the invasion of Ukraine, never condemning Russia for its targeted action.

According to his detractors, Pope Francis had used some elements of language adopted by the Kremlin, stating then that the conflict had been “provoked” by a broader global confrontation. A senior Ukrainian official confided anonymously to AFP that “he didn't really understand and didn't even try to understand what was happening here.”

Efforts appreciated

During his pontificate, Ukrainian officials had nonetheless praised his efforts to facilitate the exchange of prisoners as well as the return of children sent by Moscow to Russia from occupied areas of Ukraine, as reported by 20 Minutes.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: 20 Minutes - Illustration: © Unsplash)