Training Nazi Death Operations During World War II, Pope Francis Hopes To Awake Peace Intentions In Ukraine

Pope Francis holds the Ukrainian flag from the Bucha region. (Source: Vatican News)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis on Wednesday compared the war in Ukraine with Nazi operations that killed about two million people, mostly Jews, in the first years of the Second World War.

Speaking to Polish pilgrims at his weekly general audience, the Pope noted that the Catholic University of Luflin, in Poland, recently commemorated Operation Reinhard's birthday.

That is the code name for a covert operation in the occupied parts of Poland, which Germany calls the "General Government" region, covering the region now in Ukraine.

"Hopefully this memory of this horrific event evokes peace intentions and actions on everyone," he said, specifically citing the operation, saying it was one of the "terminations".

"And history repeats itself. We'll see now what's happening in Ukraine," the Pope continued.

Russia calls its invasion of Ukraine a "special military operation" for "denazification" of the country, eradicating nationalists it deems dangerous.

In contrast, Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of baseless war to seize territory from its pro-Western neighbor.

Since the invasion began in February, Pope Francis has become increasingly harsh in condemning Russia's actions.

Last month, he said Ukrainians suffered "deaths of martyrdom", comparing the effects of war in Ukraine to "terrible genocide" in the 1930s, when Soviet leader Josef Stalin caused starvation in the country.

The Pope has known to have offered Vatican mediation several times to resolve the conflict, but his growing criticism of Russia makes this highly unlikely.

In a interview last month with Jesuit America magazine, the Pope spoke of the atrocities he called Russian troops in Ukraine.

"Generally the most cruel may be those who come from Russia, but not from Russian traditions, such asiri, Buryati and so on. Surely those who invade are Russian countries. This is very clear," the Pope said.

In response to this, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called it understandable.