The Pope highlighted the diplomatic role that the Holy See is playing in the war in Ukraine after assuring that they are working on «developing a network of relations» to bring the positions closer and to achieve a «real cease-fire» that does not remain a simple «truce» that actually serves for rearmament.
«We are continuously attentive to the evolution of the situation. As I said on the plane coming back from Bahrain, the Secretary of State is working and working well, every day, and assessing any hypothesis and assessing any glimmer that could lead to a real ceasefire, and real negotiations. In the meantime, we are committed to humanitarian support for the tormented people of Ukraine, whom I hold in my heart along with their suffering. And then we try to develop a network of relations that will favor rapprochement between the parties, in order to find solutions. In addition, the Holy See does what it must to help the prisoners», Francis assures in an interview to the Italian newspaper ‘La Stampa’.
The Pontiff shows the availability of the Holy See to play the role of peace mediator and to host possible negotiations. «As we have been reporting for months, and as Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin has stated on several occasions, the Holy See is ready to do everything possible to mediate and put an end to the conflict in Ukraine,» he stressed.
The Pope also condemns the prevalence of «the destructive vocation» that gives rise to wars. «It causes particular anger and sadness to realize that behind all these tragedies are the lust for power and the arms trade,» he denounced.
Thus, he details how experts have explained to him that if weapons were not manufactured and sold «in one year», «hunger in the world would be eliminated». «When empires are weakened, they seek to make war to feel strong, and also to sell weapons. In a century, three world wars! And we do not learn!» he criticizes.
In any case, he does not lose hope and asks the international community not to resign itself. «Peace is possible. But everyone must work to demilitarize hearts, starting with their own, and then deactivate, disarm violence. We must all be pacifists. To want peace, not just a truce that only serves to rearm. True peace, which is the fruit of dialogue. It is not achieved with weapons, because they do not overcome hatred and the thirst for domination, which will emerge again, perhaps in other ways, but they will emerge again,» he concludes.
