Pope Francis repeatedly finds sharp words against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war is "insane and tragic," he now explains during his visit to Kazakhstan. The pontifex wants to campaign for peace there - but the most explosive conversation does not take place.
With his trip to the religious meeting in Kazakhstan, Pope Francis wants to underline that he stands with all people in the world who are looking for peace. "I come to amplify the cry of the many who are begging for peace, which is an essential development factor for our globalized world," said the Catholic leader in Nur-Sultan.
In the Kazakh capital, Francis recalled Ukraine in his speech to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and diplomats. "I come here in the midst of the insane and tragic war unleashed by the invasion of Ukraine, and at a time when further confrontations and looming conflicts threaten our time," the Pope said. The 85-year-old Argentinian underlined once again that Russia, as the aggressor, is responsible for the war. Francis had not said that clearly for a long time and was therefore criticized.
Francis described his visit as a "pilgrimage of dialogue and peace". "Our world urgently needs this, it must find harmony again," emphasized the pontiff. The two-day congress of religious leaders opens this Wednesday. Several bilateral meetings are planned. In addition, the pope wants to celebrate a public mass in Nur-Sultan. A final declaration of the congress is to be read out on Thursday, after which the return flight to Rome is scheduled.
An explosive date has been canceled: the Russian Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, will not be present at the conference. The pope has long hoped to talk to the Russian church leader about common paths to peace. For this he was criticized by Ukrainians. They consider it an affront should Francis meet Kirill before traveling to Kyiv.
