The evolution is subtle, prudent, but clear: in his first Sunday prayer since his election, Pope Leo XIV has suggested a break with his Argentinian predecessor on the Ukrainian file. The American pope spoke to the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica for the Regina CaeliSunday May 11, and he called “The greats of this world” To stop the war, whether in Gaza, between India and Pakistan, or therefore in Ukraine.
Regarding this country, he asked “An authentic, fair and lasting peace”formula that contrasts with the tone that François worked. In the name of a total pacifism, he more readily called an immediate peace of his wishes, and had asked Ukraine to have “The courage of the white flag”. On several occasions, he had appeared to put on the same aggressor and attacked, or mentioned “NATO barking at the door of Russia”.
“I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian peoplesaid Leon XIV. Everything must be done to achieve authentic, fair and lasting peace as soon as possible ”. He also pleaded for “All prisoners are released and that children can return to their families”.
“An imperialist invasion”
This semantics is close to that used by kyiv and its European allies, which argue that a simple stop of fighting does not solve anything, when the American administration led by Donald Trump pushes kyiv to accept a peace agreement under Moscow, similar to a pure and simple capitulation.
The words of the new pope, elected on May 8, come when Vladimir Putin revived the idea of ”on Saturday Negotiations without any prior condition “, which could, according to the Russian president,” start next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul “. In 2022, while he was still in Peru, Cardinal Robert Prevost, future Léon XIV, had condemned firmly, in an interview with the media Semanario Expresión,, “Unjust assault” launched by Moscow, and mentioned “An imperialist invasion” and “Crimes against humanity” perpetrated by Russian forces.