Of . – 04/02/2022 12:21 (act 04/02/2022 14:06)
Pope Francis has already received an invitation from Ukraine. ©APA/AFP/ANDREAS SOLARO (image of symbol)
Will Pope Francis be in Kiev? The church head is considering at least one trip to Ukraine.
On the flight to his visit to Malta, a journalist traveling with him asked if he would accept an invitation to visit the Ukrainian capital Kiev. “Yes, that’s on the table,” the 85-year-old head of the Catholic Church replied Saturday morning. Francis has now arrived in the smallest EU country, Malta, for his two-day trip.
Ukraine invited Pope Francis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko had already invited the Argentine to the war-torn country. Pope Francis has condemned the war in Ukraine in numerous public appearances and sent representatives of the Catholic Church from the Vatican there.
Pope Francis condemns war in Ukraine
Pope Francis condemned the war in Ukraine but avoided direct criticism of Russia. At the start of a visit to Malta, the head of the Catholic Church said Saturday in the capital Valletta that the “darkness of war” came from Eastern Europe. Once again, “some powerful” fueled the conflict. However, as on previous occasions, the 85-year-old has not named Russia or its president Vladimir Putin.
“We thought that invasions from other countries, brutal street fighting and nuclear threats were dark memories of a distant past,” the Argentine said in his speech to diplomats. “But the cold winds of war, which bring only death, destruction and hatred, have arrogantly rushed over the lives of many and the days of all.” It is sad to see few powerful people advance in search of space and zones of influence.
Pope Francis arrives in Malta
Francis arrived in Malta on Saturday for a two-day visit. Dealing with refugees is also a central theme. “The widening of the migration emergency situation – just think of the refugees from tormented Ukraine – requires comprehensive and joint responses,” the Pope said. “It is not possible for some countries to bear the whole problem while others remain indifferent.”
According to Kathpress, the pontiff showed understanding for “fears and insecurities” in the face of the growing flow of migrants to Europe. However, the complex issue must be looked at together and placed in a broader temporal and spatial perspective.
Meeting between Pope Francis and refugees from Ukraine
Before leaving for the Mediterranean island, Francis met several families in Rome who had fled Ukraine for Italy.
After his arrival in Malta, the 85-year-old called for more action against corruption in the smallest EU country. Corruption is a well-known problem in the country of around 500,000 people. The 2017 murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb, caused a worldwide sensation. Previously, she researched corruption around a deal for a power plant that also involved high-profile politicians.
Francis the Third Pope in Malta
On Sunday, the Holy Father plans to visit a center that houses around 50 migrants. Francis is behind John Paul II (1990 and 2001) and Benedict XVI. (2010) the third Pope to visit Malta.