The supreme pontiff who doubles as the head of the worldwide Catholic church has weighed in on the ongoing global conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Pope Francis has said that war in Ukraine would be “madness” and voiced hope that tensions between that country and Russia can be overcome through multi-lateral dialogue.
Speaking at his Wednesday general audience, Francis thanked those who took part in his January 26 International Day of Prayer for peace in Ukraine.
“Let us continue to beg the God of peace so that the tensions and threats of war can be overcome through a serious dialogue and that the Normandy Format talks can contribute to this aim,” he said, referring to negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by Germany and France.
“And let’s not forget. War is madness,” he said.
The holy pope further offered spiritual guidance on war through his official Twitter page asking people across the globe to pray together for Ukraine. The pontiff commenced his communication with the hashtag #PrayTogether #Ukraine.
The pope shared a message in which he quoted a phrase from Fratelli tutti (All brothers), his third encyclical on fraternity and social friendship.
“Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil,” he quoted.
The quote was delivered in a graphic-generated note that was aligned next to a crucifix.
He shortly followed the tweet with another of identical nature conveying a different message.
The Pope quotes a General Audience message observing the war from the perspective of Jesus’ teaching.
“Jesus taught us that the diabolical senselessness of violence is answered with God’s weapons, with prayer and fasting. May the Queen of peace preserve the world from the madness of war,” he noted.
The Pope hence quotes from his General Audience of February 23 rd, this year.