Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Barking At Putin's Door': Pope Francis Suggests NATO Started War In Ukraine By Provoking Russia
IBT ^ | Nicholas Morgan

Posted on 09/11/2022 3:43:25 AM PDT by jacknhoo

Pope Francis has been steadfast in his opposition to the war in Ukraine, decrying the violence that it has wrought on innocent civilians. At the same time, the pope suggested there was blame for the war to go around beyond Russia and Vladimir Putin.

On Tuesday, an Italian newspaper published an interview with Francis where he declined to state what he believed was Putin’s exact motivations for launching the war against Ukraine on Feb. 24. However, the pope suggested that the West could bear some responsibility for what he says may have been its provocation of Putin.

"Maybe it was NATO barking at Russia’s gate that compelled Putin to unleash the invasion of Ukraine," Francis speculated in the interview with Corriere Della Sera. He repeated that he had "no way of telling whether his [Putin's] rage" had been provoked, but added it was his suspicion the war was "maybe facilitated by the West's attitude."

He added: “You cannot think that a free state can wage war on another free state...In Ukraine, it seems that it was others who created the conflict."

Francis’ remarks may come as a surprise given his own critiques of the war. After it began, Francis himself made his way to the Russian embassy at the Vatican to “register his concerns” and he had made repeated overtures to Moscow to facilitate either a truce or humanitarian efforts. All of these were left unanswered by Russian officials. On April 13, Francis also lamented the killing of civilians in the war, something he said left the faithful troubled because it was "marked by the forces of evil."

The pope’s comments in a broad sense echoed recriminations made by Putin in the run-up of the war. During his address that announced the start of the “special military operation” against Ukraine, Putin accused NATO of moving only closer to Russian borders and argued it could "no longer just watch what is happening".

Asked by his interviewers whether a trip to Ukraine was in the cards, Francis declined to commit to one, insisting that it would be more appropriate to visit Russia first. However, Francis caveated this by insisting he is uncertain about whether any meeting with Putin will translate into progress towards ending the war.

He also declined to endorse the West’s supply of military weapons to Kyiv before accusing both sides of engaging in an immoral arms race. The United States and its European allies have been transferring heavier, more advanced weaponry to Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s retreat from around Kyiv. Francis said that the flow of weapons into Ukraine was a “disgrace”.

"What seems indisputable is that in that country both sides are trying out new weapons," Francis said. "The production and the sale of armaments is a disgrace, but few are bold enough to stand up against it."


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: antipope; atotheleftsarmy; bergoglio; chechens; chechnya; deathtochechnya; deathtoputin; deathtorussia; dementiajoestartsww3; frankthehippiepope; frankthehippypope; hateamericafirst; justwar; notamericasfight; notamericaswar; notglobalcops; peace; pedosforputin; putinlovertrollsonfr; putinsbuttboys; putinworshippers; romancatholicism; russia; russianaggression; russiansuicide; scottritter; ukraine; vladtheimploder; wwiii; zottherussiantrolls
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-93 next last
Bergoglio has yet to visit either side, as far as I am aware.

From Conservapedia: “Pope Francis courageously points out, contrary to the view of globalists, that NATO started the Russia-Ukraine war by "barking at Putin's door."”

1 posted on 09/11/2022 3:43:25 AM PDT by jacknhoo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

This Pope is a dope.


2 posted on 09/11/2022 3:48:59 AM PDT by tennmountainman ( Less Lindell CONS, More AZ Style Audits)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

JUST when I think the current Pope can’t be any worse he comes up with a way.


3 posted on 09/11/2022 3:52:52 AM PDT by jdsteel (Do I really need a /sarc?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

He’s not wrong.


4 posted on 09/11/2022 3:54:36 AM PDT by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Well he’s wrong. NATO should have been disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union.


5 posted on 09/11/2022 3:56:18 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Free Chauvin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo
WOW. Can the Pope question the WEF/NWO narrative ?
6 posted on 09/11/2022 3:56:55 AM PDT by A strike (LGBFJRoberts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

Would this pope have tried to save the Jews?


7 posted on 09/11/2022 4:02:46 AM PDT by ryderann
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo
I am not a fan of this current Pope, but he is not wrong here. I agree that NATO “barking at Russia's door” probably provoked Putin to strike out by invading Ukraine.
Do I agree with Putin? Hell NO!
But we should look at the the West's rhetoric and actions since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
8 posted on 09/11/2022 4:04:32 AM PDT by Tupelo (Don't under estimate the Republicans ability to f*** things up)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

Pope Francis forgot to get his talking points today


9 posted on 09/11/2022 4:06:06 AM PDT by BRL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

The Pope and Erdogan of Turkey are on the same wavelength regarding Ukraine.

In 2014 a coup was staged in Ukraine by outside forces the US and allied elements to overthrow the pro-Russian government there beginning this provocative policy that led to this moment.

If the “Conservatives” or perhaps the “Neconservatives” not real ones IMHO want to keep everyone loyal to the RINO’s of the GOP who preach against Putin blame Obama for 2014 and Biden in 2022 say it was the Democrats fault.


10 posted on 09/11/2022 4:12:41 AM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERBODY'S BUSINESS-REMEMBER PASTOR NIEMOLLER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tennmountainman

This may be the first thing he’s said that I agree with.


11 posted on 09/11/2022 4:19:20 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

NATO, which is run by the United States, did provoke the war.


12 posted on 09/11/2022 4:25:20 AM PDT by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

“You cannot think that a free state can wage war on another free state...In Ukraine, it seems that it was others who created the conflict.”

Even a Marxist pontiff should bear responsibility for the inanity of his own dicta. It is beyond inanity in one breath to rule that one free state may not wage war on another and in the next breath to rationalize precisely that.

“Provocation” is no justification for invasion and the Pope has confused the meaning of these two words. The trials at Nuremberg settled that.


13 posted on 09/11/2022 4:25:41 AM PDT by nathanbedford (Attack, repeat, attack! - Bull Halsey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

“You cannot think that a free state can wage war on another free state...In Ukraine, it seems that it was others who created the conflict.”

Even a Marxist pontiff should bear responsibility for the inanity of his own dicta. It is beyond inanity in one breath to rule that one free state may not wage war on another and in the next breath to rationalize precisely that.

“Provocation” is no justification for invasion and the Pope has confused the meaning of these two words. The trials at Nuremberg settled that.


14 posted on 09/11/2022 4:25:52 AM PDT by nathanbedford (Attack, repeat, attack! - Bull Halsey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Pope Francis is right. NATO provoked this war.


15 posted on 09/11/2022 4:27:00 AM PDT by JonPreston
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jacknhoo

The Pope is predictably wrong.


16 posted on 09/11/2022 4:29:28 AM PDT by The_Media_never_lie (Remember August 8!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: escapefromboston

“NATO should have been disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union.”

BINGO BINGO BINGO
1000% correct

and the Wikipedia NATO page history section says exactly why it should have been disbanded when it was no longer needed:

“In the 1990s, the organization extended its activities into political and humanitarian situations that had not formerly been NATO concerns.”


17 posted on 09/11/2022 4:36:03 AM PDT by Jaysin (Trump can’t be beat, unless the democrats cheat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: JonPreston

Former Warsaw Pact puppets state joining NATO 18 years ago, and Ukraine looking at NATO after having chunks of it’s territory stolen by Russia was not a provocation.


18 posted on 09/11/2022 4:42:31 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Hi! I'm the Dread Pirate Roberts! (TM) Atsk about franchise opportunities in your area.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: escapefromboston
"NATO should have been disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union."

Oh, what a great idea! Let's get rid of NATO so there's nobody to stand against Russia when it begins to reconstitute its old empire.

I mean, don't Russians have the absolute, God given, right to rule over their neighbors, regardless of what their neighbors think of that?

Nobody should stand in the way of Russians, not now, not ever, right?

</sarcasm>

19 posted on 09/11/2022 4:45:35 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: JonPreston

Agreed. The below is from an interview Zelensky gave.

“...the response was very clear, you’re not going to be a NATO member, but publicly, the doors will remain open.”

They publicly spoke and wrote articles about Ukraine joining Nato, but had no intention of that happening.

https://www.islamtimes.org/en/news/984878/zelensky-reveals-nato-s-true-stance-on-ukraine-accession


20 posted on 09/11/2022 4:46:06 AM PDT by Cats1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-93 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson