Vatican Finds Itself on the Outside Looking In at Russia-Ukraine Diplomatic Efforts

The National Catholic Register ^ | 5/6/22 | Father Raymond J. de Souza

[marshmallow]

COMMENTARY: Despite intensive efforts, the Holy See finds itself strangely isolated.

When Pope Francis visited the Russian Embassy to the Holy See in late February, it was a clear sign that papal diplomacy in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine would be exercised creatively. After all, ambassadors visit heads of state, not the other way around. President Joe Biden would never visit the Chinese embassy to discuss provocative operations in the South China Sea.

A willingness to be bold and creative speaks well of Pope Francis’ eagerness to end the war, but at the same time runs the risk of unintended consequences.

Thus far, Pope Francis has expressed his view on the illegitimate invasion of Ukraine by his own public statements, dramatic gestures (kissing the Ukrainian flag), sending of envoys to Ukraine and phone calls with the Ukrainian president. The Holy Father has also given press interviews.

In the early weeks of the 2022 expansion of the war — the war actually began in 2014, with the Russia invasion, occupation and annexation of Crimea — Holy See diplomacy attempted to operate on two tracks. The Holy Father himself would condemn the aggression while his chief diplomats would make clear who the aggressor was. Hence Pope Francis did not condemn Vladimir Putin or Russia by name, but Cardinal Pietro Parolin did.

Pope Francis himself argued that this was standard Vatican diplomacy, which clearly condemns injustice but refrains from condemning individuals, in the hope that avenues of dialogue for peace can be kept open. It is a plausible claim. There was no doubt about how Pope Pius XII felt about Hitler, or St. John Paul II about communism, but their rhetorical condemnations of persons or parties were restrained. For two months, that has been the approach, with Cardinal Parolin growing increasingly.....

[Cronos]

The Pope should just talk about ending the war. Neither side will listen to the Catholic pontiff

[kearnyirish2]

In a “New World Order” who needs - or wants - a Pope? His own flock has little use for him, with his weak leadership.