Pope warns Putin against ‘barbaric’ war – ‘in the name of God – stop the massacre’ – World News

Pope Francis called on Vladimir Putin to end the “barbaric” war that threatens to turn cities into “cemeteries” as he addressed a crowd of 25,000 worshipers in St Peter’s Square this morning.

Pope Francis has delivered his harshest condemnation of the current invasion of Ukraine, saying the “unacceptable act of armed aggression” and the “massacre” must stop.

The Pope of France has not used the word “Russia” in his condemnation of the war since President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack on February 24.

But the Pope’s choice of words seems increasingly aimed at Putin and dismisses Moscow’s justifications for the invasion.

Speaking during Sunday’s benediction, he said: “Faced with the brutal killing of children, innocent people and unarmed civilians, no strategic rationale can stand it. “

Moscow claims its invasion was designed not to capture territory but to demilitarize and “demilitarize” its neighbour.

The country also denies targeting civilian areas.

“The only thing that needs to be done is to stop this unacceptable act of armed aggression before it turns cities into cemeteries,” Pope Francis said.

“In the name of God, I ask you: stop this massacre!”

He called the besieged Ukrainian port of Mariupol a “martyrdom city” and again called for a “really safe humanitarian corridor” to allow people to evacuate.

Russia bombed a maternity hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday.

Ukraine said pregnant women were among those injured.

Moscow said the hospital was no longer operational and was occupied by Ukrainian warplanes.

But Pope Francis seemed particularly somber in his recent speech.

After an unusually brief greeting to the groups in the square, he left the top floor window of the Apostolic Palace and returned to the Pope’s library.

Russia called its actions a “special military operation”.

Last Sunday, Pope Francis tacitly dismissed the term, saying it could not be seen as “just a military operation”.

But instead, he said it was a war that unleashed “rivers of blood and tears”.

On Sunday, Pope Francis also urged people to accept refugees from Ukraine and thanked those who have joined a “great network of solidarity” to help those fleeing war.

The war in Ukraine has created more than 2.5 million refugees, most of which are received by Poland.

And after making Pope Francis wait 50 minutes during their first meeting in 2013, Putin decided to extend his application and keep the head of the Catholic Church on a second stay even longer.