- Another peace initiative by the Pontiff
- Other trouble spots were also recalled
- "Holier" than the Pope criticized the latter
Another peace initiative by the Pontiff
Pope Francis has proposed a three-year prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, which has been at war for three years, on the basis of an "all-for-all" formula. He made the announcement in his traditional Easter address "Urbi et Orbi" (Urbi et Orbi for the City and the World), the Corriere della Sera newspaper reported[1].
"Calling for respect for the principles of international law, I hope that Russia and Ukraine will exchange all the prisoners of war they have. They will exchange them all!" - urged the Pope.
The Pontiff also called for humanitarian aid to reach the people of the Gaza Strip, where war has been waging since last October. He also stressed the need for the release of the Israeli hostages still in the hands of the Islamist group Hamas and a halt to the fighting in the enclave[2].
"My thoughts go out to the victims of the many conflicts currently taking place in the world, starting with those in Israel and Palestine and Ukraine. Let us make sure that the ongoing fighting does not harm the civilian populations, and especially the children, who have been severely depleted," Pope Francis stressed.
Other trouble spots were also recalled
Reuters reported that the Pope's Easter address traditionally focused on global issues. This year's address recalled rising tensions in Syria, Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Haiti, Burma, Sudan, the Sahel, Congo, and Mozambique, in addition to the Palestinian-Jewish and Ukrainian-Russian wars.
Earlier, Pope Francis said that in the conflict in Ukraine, those who first dare to raise the white flag and start negotiations will be the stronger side.
"When you see that you are losing, that things are going downhill, you need to find the courage to negotiate. Shame on you, but how many more lives will it take? Start negotiating in time, look for a party that can mediate for both sides", the pontiff said in an interview with Swiss TV and radio company RSI.
He stressed that negotiation is not capitulation but heroism, which is needed to prevent the country from committing suicide.
"Holier" than the Pope criticized the latter
The Pope's proposal was quickly met with criticism from the "holier" than thou "secularists" and from Kyiv and its allies.
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Dmitry Kuleba, wrote on his account on the social network "X" that Ukraine would not raise any other flags.
"Our flag is yellow-blue. It is the flag with which we live, die and win", he stressed.
According to Maria Zakharova, the official spokeswoman of the Russian UMR, the Pope is thus calling on the West to admit its mistake and to abandon further ambitions.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni later said that the pontiff had suggested that the parties to the Ukrainian conflict agree on a ceasefire and resume the stalled talks. Bruni stressed that Ukraine was not surrendering and that the phrase "white flag" had been used by a journalist and should not be interpreted as literal but as a figurative expression.
