Vita gazette – Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic world, stressed that the most important responsible for the wars was the armament and defended the Russian people. “The Russian people are large, but it is mercenaries and soldiers who go to war as is done. an adventure. Just think of Dostoevsky who inspires us, to Christianity.”

Pope Francis, on the return flight from Bahrain to Rome, met with journalists for a press conference. The Pontiff spoke on the Ukrainian situation.

“The cruelties that are happening in Ukraine are not of the Russian people and the Holy See is continually attentive and works well to achieve peace. The day after the war I thought I had to go to the Russian ambassador, a man of open mind. I said I was also willing to go to Russia. I was told that for the moment there was no need. I have spoken twice with Zelensky, the Holy See does what it must do. To free prisoners, but these are things we always do.”

“Just think of Dostoevsky who inspires us, to Christianity”

Francis then said that “the cruelty that is not of the Russian people is striking. The Russian people are large, but it is mercenaries and soldiers who go to war as one does on an adventure. Just think of Dostoevsky who inspires us, to Christianity. I have affection for the Russian people and for the Ukrainian people.” He then told an anecdote: “When I was 10, I was an altar boy with a Ukrainian priest and I learned a few words. I am amid two peoples I love.”

“The countries wage war to sell weapons.”

The Pope then “complained” of the fact that “in a century there have been three world wars, because this is a world war. It is true that when empires weaken, they make a war also to sell arms. Today the calamity the largest is the arms industry. If in a year no more weapons were made, hunger in the world would end.”

“Today the greatest calamity is the arms industry”

He then cited the other, many situations of conflict around the world: “Think of Yemen, more than ten years of war, children have no food. The Rohingya in Myanmar. It is terrible, in Ethiopia I hope something stops.”

“Now the war touches closely in Europe”

But we are at war everywhere. Now it touches us closely in Europe. Think of Syria, 13 years of war and nobody knows what happens in there. We have said about Lebanon. You journalists be pacifists, speak out against wars. I ask you please,” he concluded.