POPE FRANCIS AND RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE

Thomas Mark NÉMETH

doi:10.24193/theol.cath.latina.2023.LXVIII.1.04

Authors

Thomas Mark NÉMETH Eastern Christian Theology at the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Vienna. He is also a priest of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Email: thomas.nemeth@univie.ac.at. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1185-0578

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/theol.cath.latina.2023.LXVIII.1.04

Keywords:

Ukraine, Russia, Pope Francis, Vatican Policy, Greek Catholic Church, Peace Ethics, Just War, Pacifism

Abstract

This article aims at analysing and commenting the approach and position of Pope Francis and the Holy See in the issue of Russia’s war against Ukraine (2014–) since the full-scale invasion of 2022. Statements and gestures of the Pope that joined Russia and Ukraine together, were often received negatively in Ukraine. The encyclical Fratelli tutti, Vatican neutrality and Ostpolitik raised questions concerning peace ethics and reconciliation. The article presents guiding principles and ideas of the Catholic Church leadership on these issues and shows that there is a demand for active involvement of the Ukrainian side in the discussion process.

Article history: Received 17.04.2023; Revised .05.2023; Accepted .05.2023; Available online: 07. 06. 2023. Available print: 30. 06. 2023

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