Pope Francis: Russia’s use of mercenaries in Ukraine is ‘monstrous’

Pope Francis’ general audience in St. Peter’s Square, June 8, 2022. / Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Vatican City, Jun 14, 2022 / 02:32 am (CNA).

Pope Francis has described Russia’s use of mercenaries in the Ukraine war as “monstrous” in an interview published on Tuesday.

Speaking to the editors of Jesuit journals, the pope also suggested that the war, which began with a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, was “perhaps somehow either provoked or not prevented.”

He said: “What we are seeing is the brutality and ferocity with which this war is being carried out by the troops, generally mercenaries, used by the Russians. The Russians prefer to send in Chechen and Syrian mercenaries.”

“But the danger is that we only see this, which is monstrous, and we do not see the whole drama unfolding behind this war, which was perhaps somehow either provoked or not prevented. And note the interest in testing and selling weapons. It is very sad, but at the end of the day that is what is at stake.”

He rejected suggestions that he was in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he hoped to meet with Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill in Kazakhstan in September.

The interview, which also touched on the global synodal process, the Germany “Synodal Way,” and the Second Vatican Council was published in La Civiltà Cattolica on June 14, but was conducted on May 19.

The interview was published after it emerged that Pope Francis discussed his stance on the war with a Ukrainian delegation on June 8.

One participant, Myroslav Marynovych, the vice-rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, described the meeting as “very significant.”

He said: “We all left the meeting feeling grateful to the pope for the opportunity to share our thoughts and were truly inspired. This conversation was very significant for all of us.”

“Of course, it does not mean that from now on, the pope will view the world through the Ukrainian prism. Indeed, in the future, it might be important for Ukrainians to hear the Vatican’s perspective on certain issues. However, today there is one thing we can be certain about: communication crises must be resolved via friendly communication. And that is what we tried to do while in the Vatican.”

This is a developing story.