Catholics in Russia support Pope Francis’ frequent prayers for “the martyred people of Ukraine,” the head of the Catholic Church in Russia said.
When the pope asks for prayers for Ukraine at his weekly audiences or after praying the Angelus on Sundays, “no one thinks it is a political choice,” Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of Moscow told Catholic News Service on 13th October while in Rome to participate in the assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
Russian Catholics “certainly” embrace the pope’s open support for the Ukrainian people, he said, “because it is in the context of a human relationship, of a Christian relationship.” In September, Ukrainian Catholic bishops meeting in Rome warned Pope Francis that some of his statements are used by Russian propaganda to justify the war in Ukraine.
Yet Archbishop Pezzi, chairman of the Russian bishops’ conference, told CNS that the pope’s messages are “absolutely not” appropriated by the Russian government for propaganda use. “Maybe the media underscores certain things and leaves aside others, but this happens everywhere, unfortunately,” he said.
“Of course, there are some fringes and even some important people who desecrate the pope and deliberately distort his words, however I would say that in general the pope’s voice is heard and well-kept.”
Picture: Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of Moscow poses for a photo in front of the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican, 13th October 2023. (CNS photo/Justin McLellan)