Pope Francis: The war in Ukraine is a fundamental hypocrisy

Pope Francis. Photo: Vatican News

Pope Francis voiced his alarm over the worldwide tendency toward self-destruction through war, as reported by Vatican News. He has repeatedly described war as “a human defeat,” lamenting the hypocrisy of nations that advocate for peace while profiting from the arms trade.

“I am concerned that countless calls for peace from international organizations go in one ear and out the other," he said during the interview decrying what he called a "fundamental hypocrisy: we talk about peace but we arm for war,” he pointed out, adding that "one of the greatest returns on investment in Europe comes from arms factories."

The Pontiff condemned the events in conflict zones, calling many of the actions “criminal” and beyond the usual rules of warfare. He particularly highlighted attacks on civilians, emphasizing that such actions cannot be justified.

Decrying the conflict in Ukraine, Pope Francis noted a lack of genuine efforts toward a peaceful resolution. He reiterated his conviction that “peace treaties are urgently needed, but when one speaks of peace, people start beating about the bush,” adding that young Ukrainians are being sent to the front lines under conditions of unequal forces.

The Pope also underscored the importance of personal ethics and sincere dialogue in peacebuilding efforts, observing that meetings aimed at achieving peace are often influenced by private interests.

“Dialogue is crucial. If there is no dialogue, there will be no peace. We must stop attacking one another, stop destroying one another, and start engaging one another. Peace is achieved through dialogue,” he stressed, highlighting the need for the European Union to continue to work for peace. "These institutions have weakened a little, but they still have the capacity to foster dialogue,” the Pope said.

As reported by the UOJ, the U.S. State Department criticized the Pope's call for a Christmas truce in Ukraine.

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