Calling Invasion Of Ukraine Armed Aggression, Pope Francis: In God's Name, Stop These Massacres

Pope Francis. (YouTube/Vatican News screenshot)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis issued his strongest condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, calling it unacceptable armed aggression, calling for the massacre to stop.

Pope Francis has not used the word 'Russia' in his condemnation of war since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion on February 24. However, the Pope's choice of words seems increasingly aimed at rejecting Moscow's justifications for the invasion.

"Faced with the barbarity of killing children, innocent people, and unarmed civilians, no strategic reason can hold it back," he told 25.000 people in St Peter's Square, Vatika during his Sunday blessing.

Moscow says its actions are designed not to occupy territory, but to demilitarize and denazify its neighbors. In addition, Moscow also denies targeting civilian areas.

"The only thing that has to be done is to stop this unacceptable armed aggression before it turns the city into a graveyard," Pope Francis said.

"In the name of God, I ask you to stop this massacre!" Pope Francis asked, before asking the crowds to join him in silent prayer to end the war.

On the occasion, Pope Francis also called the besieged Mariupol Port in Ukraine a 'city of martyrs, and once again called for a completely safe humanitarian corridor to allow residents to evacuate.

Last week, Russia bombed a maternity hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday. Ukraine said pregnant women were among those injured. Russia says the hospital is no longer functioning and has been occupied by Ukrainian fighters

On Sunday, Pope Francis also urged people to accept refugees from Ukraine and thanked those who have joined the "large network of solidarity" to help those fleeing the war.

Pope Francis looked very somber. After a brief unusual greeting to the groups in the square, he left the window on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace and returned to the papal library.

It is known, Russia called his actions a 'special military operation'. Last week Francis implicitly rejected the term, saying it could not be considered just a military operation, but a war that has unleashed rivers of blood and tears.

By 18 days of the invasion, fighting in Ukraine had created more than 2.5 million refugees, with most of them being held by Poland.