Vatican Cardinal: 'We cannot resign ourselves to the inevitability of war!'

Cardinal Pietro Parolin near the Okhmatdyt Hospital. Photo: Vatican News

In an interview published on the Vatican News website, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine could be achieved quickly if the parties were willing to stop the fighting. According to him, peace is possible and “could happen in just a few hours, if only the will existed.” The Cardinal emphasized that the primary responsibility for ending the war lies with Russia, which initiated aggression against Ukraine.

He also expressed concern that modern diplomacy is losing ground, with patient dialogues and creative negotiations being sidelined, leading to the escalation of conflicts. Parolin noted that this is not just a political mistake but a tragedy for the innocent victims of war.

The Vatican Secretary of State voiced hope that "even though the signals are not positive, a negotiation is always possible and desirable for anyone who rightly values the sacredness of human life." He stressed that “negotiating is not a sign of weakness, but of courage.” The Cardinal urged world leaders to engage in “honest negotiations” and make “honorable compromises” to help resolve the current impasse.

Concluding his remarks, the Vatican Secretary of State expressed hope that the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine would awaken a sense of responsibility among world leaders. “We cannot resign ourselves to the inevitability of war! I sincerely hope that this sad day, the thousandth since the outbreak of military aggression against Ukraine, will awaken a sense of responsibility in everyone, especially those who can stop the ongoing carnage,” Cardinal Parolin said.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Pietro Parolin had earlier commented on Donald Trump’s statement to the effect that wars would end under his leadership by saying that "he has no magic wand.”

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