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Pope urges ceasefire in Ukraine ahead of invasion anniversary
Feb 22 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, speaking two days before the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on Wednesday called for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, saying no victory could be "built on ruins".
Francis, who has appealed for an end to violence in Ukraine at nearly every public appearance since Russia's invasion of the country on Feb. 24, 2022, spoke at his weekly general audience at the Vatican.
"It has been a year since the start of this absurd and cruel war, a sad anniversary," he said.
"The number of dead, wounded, refugees and displaced people, the (amount of) destruction and economic and social damage speak for themselves," Francis said.
Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican, Andrii Yurash, attended the audience along with a delegation of Ukrainian officials.
"May the Lord forgive so many crimes and so much violence. He is the God of peace. Let us remain close to the martyred Ukrainian people who continue to suffer," Francis said.
Francis has rejected Russia's assertion that its military presence in Ukraine was part of a "special operation," condemning what he has described as atrocities and the killing of civilians.
A day after major speeches on Ukraine by U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the pope said: "Let us ask ourselves: has everything possible been done to stop the war? I appeal to everyone who has authority over nations to commit themselves in a concrete way to end the conflict, to reach a ceasefire and start peace negotiations".
He added: "That which is built on ruins can never be a real victory".
A peace plan proposed by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last year called for a restoration of territorial integrity and for Russia to reaffirm it according to the U.N. Charter, which Zelenskiy said was "not up to negotiations".
It also demanded a withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities.
www.reuters.com
Pope Francis drew up a plan for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine
Pope Francis has developed a plan for a peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine, the chairman of the World Union of Old Believers (ARC) Leonid Sevastyanov, who maintains correspondence with the pontiff, told RIA Novosti.
It is clarified that the initiative contains the thesis of equal responsibility for any conflict. The goal of the plan is proclaimed a long and just peace, the guarantee of which will be inclusiveness, respect for culture and language and cooperation for all, including Russia , Ukraine and Europe . The priorities will be the preservation of life and health of people, as well as the non-participation of foreign countries in arming the participants in the conflict. The pontiff called the negotiations, which are proposed to be held in the Vatican, an instrument for achieving peace.
"One world for all! The reason for any war is selfishness and unwillingness to hear the interlocutor, therefore, in any war, in any conflict, everyone is to blame (Dostoevsky). Reconciliation and mutual forgiveness is the main Christian virtue. The Holy See - the Vatican - is a negotiating platform for everyone. Rome is a city of peace! The goal of the negotiations is a long and just peace for all," the plan says.
Sevastyanov noted that the text was recorded from the words of Pope Francis, who assured him today.
Human life, according to the statements of the pontiff, cannot be instrumentalized. "The life and health of citizens is the main goal of the existence of the state. The protection of people's lives is the goal of any government. There is no goal for which the life and health of a person, a citizen can be sacrificed," he stressed.
One world for all without walls and borders is the guarantee of a just world. “Russia, Ukraine and Europe are part of a single inclusive world for all! Instead of war, there is cooperation and building a single fair socio-economic space. The culture, language, nationality and faith of any person must be protected and respected,” the text says.
Negotiations and communication are recognized as the only way to overcome the conflict. According to the pontiff, "all parties must stop the offensive, sit down at the negotiating table and discuss their positions. The parties to the conflict should not arm themselves with other countries. The Holy Spirit will find an algorithm for those who want peace, capable of each of the parties to the conflict not to consider themselves and not be defeated."
"Never in history has a military victory brought final peace, but served as the cause of new conflicts, therefore only negotiations and fair agreements for all lead to a full-fledged long-term peace. The best victory is one where all parties to the conflict feel like winners, not defeated, and only respectful negotiations can bring such a victory for all,” Pope Francis concluded.
Earlier, on the day when Orthodox Christians celebrate Forgiveness Sunday, the pope asked for forgiveness from everyone he could offend in Russia. He also suggested that Ukrainians and Russians forgive each other and begin negotiations immediately.
ria-ru.translate.goog
World Union of Old Believers - Old Believers or Old Ritualists are Eastern Orthodox Christians who maintain the liturgical and ritual practices of the Russian Orthodox Church
Feb 22 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, speaking two days before the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on Wednesday called for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, saying no victory could be "built on ruins".
Francis, who has appealed for an end to violence in Ukraine at nearly every public appearance since Russia's invasion of the country on Feb. 24, 2022, spoke at his weekly general audience at the Vatican.
"It has been a year since the start of this absurd and cruel war, a sad anniversary," he said.
"The number of dead, wounded, refugees and displaced people, the (amount of) destruction and economic and social damage speak for themselves," Francis said.
Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican, Andrii Yurash, attended the audience along with a delegation of Ukrainian officials.
"May the Lord forgive so many crimes and so much violence. He is the God of peace. Let us remain close to the martyred Ukrainian people who continue to suffer," Francis said.
Francis has rejected Russia's assertion that its military presence in Ukraine was part of a "special operation," condemning what he has described as atrocities and the killing of civilians.
A day after major speeches on Ukraine by U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the pope said: "Let us ask ourselves: has everything possible been done to stop the war? I appeal to everyone who has authority over nations to commit themselves in a concrete way to end the conflict, to reach a ceasefire and start peace negotiations".
He added: "That which is built on ruins can never be a real victory".
A peace plan proposed by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last year called for a restoration of territorial integrity and for Russia to reaffirm it according to the U.N. Charter, which Zelenskiy said was "not up to negotiations".
It also demanded a withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities.
Pope urges ceasefire in Ukraine ahead of invasion anniversary
Pope Francis, speaking two days before the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on Wednesday called for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, saying no victory could be "built on ruins".
Pope Francis drew up a plan for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine
Pope Francis has developed a plan for a peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine, the chairman of the World Union of Old Believers (ARC) Leonid Sevastyanov, who maintains correspondence with the pontiff, told RIA Novosti.
It is clarified that the initiative contains the thesis of equal responsibility for any conflict. The goal of the plan is proclaimed a long and just peace, the guarantee of which will be inclusiveness, respect for culture and language and cooperation for all, including Russia , Ukraine and Europe . The priorities will be the preservation of life and health of people, as well as the non-participation of foreign countries in arming the participants in the conflict. The pontiff called the negotiations, which are proposed to be held in the Vatican, an instrument for achieving peace.
"One world for all! The reason for any war is selfishness and unwillingness to hear the interlocutor, therefore, in any war, in any conflict, everyone is to blame (Dostoevsky). Reconciliation and mutual forgiveness is the main Christian virtue. The Holy See - the Vatican - is a negotiating platform for everyone. Rome is a city of peace! The goal of the negotiations is a long and just peace for all," the plan says.
Sevastyanov noted that the text was recorded from the words of Pope Francis, who assured him today.
Human life, according to the statements of the pontiff, cannot be instrumentalized. "The life and health of citizens is the main goal of the existence of the state. The protection of people's lives is the goal of any government. There is no goal for which the life and health of a person, a citizen can be sacrificed," he stressed.
One world for all without walls and borders is the guarantee of a just world. “Russia, Ukraine and Europe are part of a single inclusive world for all! Instead of war, there is cooperation and building a single fair socio-economic space. The culture, language, nationality and faith of any person must be protected and respected,” the text says.
Negotiations and communication are recognized as the only way to overcome the conflict. According to the pontiff, "all parties must stop the offensive, sit down at the negotiating table and discuss their positions. The parties to the conflict should not arm themselves with other countries. The Holy Spirit will find an algorithm for those who want peace, capable of each of the parties to the conflict not to consider themselves and not be defeated."
"Never in history has a military victory brought final peace, but served as the cause of new conflicts, therefore only negotiations and fair agreements for all lead to a full-fledged long-term peace. The best victory is one where all parties to the conflict feel like winners, not defeated, and only respectful negotiations can bring such a victory for all,” Pope Francis concluded.
Earlier, on the day when Orthodox Christians celebrate Forgiveness Sunday, the pope asked for forgiveness from everyone he could offend in Russia. He also suggested that Ukrainians and Russians forgive each other and begin negotiations immediately.
Папа Франциск составил план мирного урегулирования на Украине
Папа римский Франциск разработал план мирного урегулирования ситуации на Украине, рассказал РИА Новости председатель Всемирного союза староверов (ВСС) Леонид... РИА Новости, 27.02.2023
World Union of Old Believers - Old Believers or Old Ritualists are Eastern Orthodox Christians who maintain the liturgical and ritual practices of the Russian Orthodox Church
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