Vatican: Pope calls for “serious international dialogue” to avoid conflict in Ukraine

Francis prays for peace in the country, in a message to Christian communities and all residents

VATICAN CITY, December 12, 2021 (Church) – The Pope today called for the intervention of the international community to fight the conflict in Ukraine, in a message to Christian communities and all residents of the country.

“We hope that tensions will be resolved through serious international dialogue and not with weapons,” Francis asked from the window of the papal apartment after the Angels’ Prayers were recited.

Ukraine has accused Russia of concentrating more than 90,000 troops on the border between the two countries with the aim of attacking its territory during the winter.

“I would like to assure my prayers for dear Ukraine, for all its churches and religious communities and for all its people,” Francis said, before thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

“I am very saddened by the stats I read a little while ago: This year, more guns were produced than the previous year. Guns are not the way,” he added.

The foreign ministers of the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy, a group in which the European Union is also represented, are meeting in Liverpool, England, where they will discuss, among other topics, the tension between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia claims that it has the right to “transfer its forces into its territory”, rejecting that it is planning any attack.

The Pope expressed his wish that “this year’s Christmas will bring peace to Ukraine.”

Francisco also raised, in Sunday’s meeting, the victims of the series of hurricanes that struck several regions of the United States last Friday.

OC