Pope Francis Calls Ukraine War A Horrible Setback For Humanity

Pope Francis speaks during the Regina Caeli prayer in St. Peter's Square, Vatican, May 1, 2022. (Antara/Vatican via Reuters)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis on Sunday described the war in Ukraine as a "terrible retreat from humanity" that left him "suffering and weeping".

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church called for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate people trapped in the Mariupol steel factory.

Speaking in front of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in his noon blessing, Francis again implicitly criticized Russia.

In Roman Catholicism, the month of May is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Francis asked the congregation to pray for peace in Ukraine.

"My thoughts go straight to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the city of Our Lady, which was barbarically bombarded and destroyed," he said of the port city that bears the name Maria and now most of the city is occupied by Russia.

"I suffer and cry thinking about the people of Ukraine, especially the weakest, the elderly, the children," Pope Francis said.