The Pope expresses concern about the conflict in the Donbas
On Monday, January 7, Pope Francis expressed his concern about the conflict in the east of Ukraine during the New Year's reception of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. He also added that in the conflict that has been going on for five years, “new alarming events in the Black Sea” recently occurred. However, he did not mention Russia.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church urged adherence to a “peaceful resolution of the conflict” and called for respect for international law, which he called “the foundation of security and coexistence in the region.” The Pope said they were “important tools to ensure the free exercise of religious rights.”
Pope Francis has promised to continue earlier humanitarian projects to help Ukrainian citizens suffering from the conflict and especially in the eastern regions of the country. He announced his intention to draw even more attention to other humanitarian issues, one of which concerns the fate of numerous prisoners.