Sat 13 May 2023:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Pope Francis to more clearly condemn Russia, following a meeting with the pontiff in the Vatican.
“I’m grateful for his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter. “I spoke about tens of thousands of deported children.”
“In addition, I asked [Pope Francis] to condemn Russian crimes in Ukraine. Because there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor.”
Francis has repeatedly drawn criticism from the Ukrainian side since the Russian invasion last year as he tried to avoid directly addressing or condemning the warring parties.
Pope assured the President of his constant prayers, as witnessed by his numerous public appeals and invocations to the Lord for peace.
They agreed on the ongoing requirement to continue providing humanitarian aid to the population, and the Pope highlighted, in particular, the need for “gestures of humanity” towards the most fragile, the innocent victims of the conflict.”
Pope Francis gave President Zelensky a bronze sculpture representing an olive branch, a symbol of peace. He also gifted him with the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together penned by the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Ahzar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb; a book on the Statio Orbis of 27 March 2020 and a volume entitled “An Encyclical on Peace in Ukraine.”
On his part, the Ukrainian President brought the Holy Father a work of art crafted from a bulletproof plate and a painting entitled “Loss” on the killing of children during conflict.
It is the second meeting between Pope Francis and the Ukrainian President who came to Rome briefly on 8 February 2020 and was received by the Pontiff in the Apostolic Palace, before Russia’s full-out invasion of Ukraine.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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