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."
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."”
This Pope is a dope.
JUST when I think the current Pope can’t be any worse he comes up with a way.
He’s not wrong.
Well he’s wrong. NATO should have been disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Would this pope have tried to save the Jews?
Pope Francis forgot to get his talking points today
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.
This may be the first thing he’s said that I agree with.
NATO, which is run by the United States, did provoke the war.
“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.
“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.
Pope Francis is right. NATO provoked this war.
The Pope is predictably wrong.
“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.”
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.
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>
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
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