Pope Francis has been criticised after saying Ukraine should have the courage of the “white flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
Some politicians and commentators in Europe reacted with anger after the pontiff appeared to stay silent on Russia’s crimes as aggressor in the invasion, which has killed tens of thousands, and placed the onus on Ukraine to make peace.
Dennis Radtke, a German Christian Democrat MEP, said the word “shameful” could be used to describe the pope’s comments.
In an interview broadcast on Saturday by Swiss television, but which the Vatican said was conducted in February, the pontiff urged parties in the Ukraine war to “have the courage to negotiate”, and do so “before things get worse”.
The Vatican’s director of communications, Matteo Bruni, issued a statement seeking to clarify the pope’s words.
He said Francis had used the term white flag “to indicate a cessation of hostilities, a truce reached with the courage of negotiation”.
The original article contains 451 words, the summary contains 161 words. Saved 64%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Pope Francis has been criticised after saying Ukraine should have the courage of the “white flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
Some politicians and commentators in Europe reacted with anger after the pontiff appeared to stay silent on Russia’s crimes as aggressor in the invasion, which has killed tens of thousands, and placed the onus on Ukraine to make peace.
Dennis Radtke, a German Christian Democrat MEP, said the word “shameful” could be used to describe the pope’s comments.
In an interview broadcast on Saturday by Swiss television, but which the Vatican said was conducted in February, the pontiff urged parties in the Ukraine war to “have the courage to negotiate”, and do so “before things get worse”.
The Vatican’s director of communications, Matteo Bruni, issued a statement seeking to clarify the pope’s words.
He said Francis had used the term white flag “to indicate a cessation of hostilities, a truce reached with the courage of negotiation”.
The original article contains 451 words, the summary contains 161 words. Saved 64%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!