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Vatican apologizes to Russia for Pope Francis’ comments on Russian troops in Ukraine Page all

VATICAN CITY, KOMPAS.com – The Vatican has apologized to Russia on the Pope’s comments that their troops were the most violent troops in Ukraine.

The Vatican confirmed it apologized for Pope Francis’ comments last month that referred to Russian soldiers from certain minority ethnic groups.

In a briefing in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia now considers the matter settled and hopes for a constructive dialogue between Russia and the Vatican.

Read also: Pope Francis’ resignation letter has been signed since 2013

The 85-year-old pontiff made the comments about Chechens and Buryats during an interview with the Jesuit magazine America on Nov. 22.

In defending the comments Russian minoritiesat that time Pope Francis said that “The most violent (troops) are probably those who come from Russia but not from ethnic Russia, such as Chechens, Buryats and so on”.

“I’m talking about people who have been martyred. If you have people who have been martyred, you have someone who has martyred them.”

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni questioned about response Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday (12/15/2022) that the Vatican had apologized following the pope’s comments.

“I can now confirm that there have been diplomatic contacts about this,” he said Daily mail.

The comments sparked outrage from Russia. Zakharova described the comments as “beyond Russophobic” and “perverted”.

Read also: Pope Francis does not hold back tears amid public prayers for peace in Ukraine

Zakharova spoke for the Russian troops on her Telegram channel: “We are one family with Buryats, Chechens and other representatives as a multinational and multireligious nation.”

“And together we will certainly pray for the Holy See, each in his own way”.

Moscow has been accused of disproportionately attracting men from ethnic minorities to Siberia and its Caucasus region to serve as troops in the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin critics say minorities from poor and isolated areas die in greater numbers in Ukraine than ethnic Russians.

But they are also accused in Ukraine of playing a major role in places like Bucha on the outskirts of Kiev, where UN investigators are investigating allegations that Russian soldiers are massacring civilians.

Chechens are from Chechnya in Southern Russia, while Buryats are an ethnic group from Eastern Siberia.

Chechen region leader, pro-Kremlin and supporter of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Ramzan Kadyrov even sent his son to war, reportedly Cnn.

Read also: Summary of the 279th day of the Russian attack on Ukraine: Russia condemns Pope Francis, Ukraine looks to the winter war

The invasion has caused tension between Roman Catholic Church leaders and Patriarch Krill, who is the head of the Orthodox Church in Russia.

Two official meetings between them have been canceled since the outbreak of war.

On Thursday (12/15/2022), the 266th Pope struggled to speak as he was overcome with emotion as he prayed for peace in Ukraine.

Appearing near the Spanish Steps in central Rome during his annual Christmas visit to honor a statue of the Virgin Mary, the Argentine pontiff hunched over and choked, struggling to continue his words amid prayers for the country at war.

While speaking at mass earlier this week, he warned of even darker times for humanity.

At Mass at the Vatican, the Pope said on Sunday that he had a terrible view of the world, with “signs of even greater destruction and destruction.”

Read also: The Vatican calls Atlético Madrid doctors to treat Pope Francis’ knee problem


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