Emphasizes Concerns About Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine During Easter Mass, Pope Francis: Please, Don't Get Used To War

JAKARTA - Pope Francis has implicitly criticized Russia for dragging Ukraine into a "cruel and senseless" conflict, urging leaders to fight for peace as he marked the so-called "Easter War" at Sunday's Easter Mass.

The Pope addressed this in his 'Urbi et Orbi' address to some 100.000 people in St. Peter's Square, Vatican. It was the first Easter since 2019, the public was allowed into the square to hear speeches twice a year after two years of COVID-19 restrictions.

Francis dedicated most of his message to Ukraine, comparing the shock of another war in Europe to the shock of the apostles, when the Bible says they saw the risen Jesus.

"Our eyes also do not believe in this Easter war. We have seen too much blood, too much violence. Our hearts are filled with fear and sadness, as many of our brothers and sisters have locked themselves up to be safe from the bombings," he said, cited from Reuters, April 17.

"May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, which is so tormented by the violence and destruction of the cruel and senseless war that dragged it down," he hoped.

Moscow has described the action launched on February 24 as a special military operation, targeting the demilitarization and denazification of its neighbor.

Pope Francis, who did not name Russia, has rejected the terminology, calling it war and previously using terms such as unjustified aggression and invasion.

"Let there be a decision for peace. May there be an end to muscle-flexing while people are suffering," Pope Francis said on Sunday, continuing to thank those who have accepted refugees from Ukraine, most of whom have gone to Poland.

Earlier this month in Malta, Pope Francis implicitly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion, saying a "ruler" was fomenting conflict in nationalist interests.

On that occasion, Pope Francis again raised the specter of war leading to nuclear conflict, something he has spoken about several times since the Russian invasion began.

This time, he quoted the 1955 manifesto by philosopher Bertrand Russell and physicist Albert Einstein: "Should we end the human race, or will humanity abandon war?"

"Please, don't get used to war," Pope Francis said, gazing at the square decorated with tens of thousands of Dutch-donated flowers.

"Let us all commit to pleading for peace, from our balconies, and on our streets. May the leaders of nations hear people's pleas for peace."

"I hold in my heart all the many victims of Ukraine, millions of refugees and displaced people, divided families, elderly people left alone, lives destroyed and cities razed to the ground," he concluded.

To note, on this occasion the Pope had time to go around 'greeting' the crowd of people in the square and the nearest street, while sitting in the white pope's open car.

The Pope also called for reconciliation between Israel and Palestine and among the peoples of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which he will visit in July.