Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has assured that Pope Francis’ statements on the alleged involvement of members of Russian minorities in the Ukrainian war are «not Christian at all», in a new Moscow criticism of the Pontiff.
The Pope had pointed out the «cruelty» faced by Ukraine with the Russian offensive in an interview with the American Jesuit newspaper ‘America’ in which he assured that «the cruelest are from Russia», alluding in particular to «Chechens and Buryats».
«Recently, there were incomprehensible, un-Christian statements in which two nationalities of the Russian Federation were included in the same category from whom atrocities are to be expected,» Lavrov said at a press conference reported by the TASS agency. «It certainly does not increase the credibility of the Holy See,» he added.
Despite Moscow’s criticism, the Pope this week reiterated his call for peace for the «martyred Ukraine» during the general audience he led on Wednesday.
