On Palm Sunday, pope calls for Easter truce in Ukraine
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis on Sunday known as for an Easter truce in Ukraine, and in an obvious reference to Russia, questioned the worth of planting a victory flag “on a heap of rubble”.
Francis spoke on the finish of a Palm Sunday service for about 50,000 individuals in St. Peter’s Sq., the primary time since 2019 that the general public was allowed to attend following two years of scaled again companies due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“Put the weapons down! Let An Easter truce begin. However to not re-arm and resume fight however a truce to achieve peace by means of actual negotiations open to some sacrifices for the nice of the individuals,” he stated.
“In an obvious reference to Russia, he stated: Actually, what sort of victory can be one which vegetation a flag on a heap of rubble?”
A flare-up of ache in his knee compelled Francis, 85, to skip the standard procession from the obelisk on the centre of the sq. to the altar on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica.
He watched as an alternative whereas seated on the altar and later limped as he stated the Mass.
Francis earlier evoked the horrors of conflict in his homily, talking of “moms who mourn the unjust loss of life of husbands and sons … refugees who flee from bombs with kids of their arms … younger individuals disadvantaged of a future …. troopers despatched to kill their brothers and sisters”.
Because the conflict started in Ukraine, Francis has solely talked about Russia particularly in prayers, corresponding to throughout a particular world occasion for peace on March 25. However he has referred to Russia through the use of phrases corresponding to invasion and aggression.
Moscow describes the motion it launched on Feb. 24 a “particular army operation”. Francis has already rejected that terminology, calling it a conflict.
Some individuals within the crowd put small Ukrainian flags on the tip of their olive branches and a girl who learn one of many prayers close to the altar was dressed within the flag’s blue and yellow colors.
Palm Sunday commemorates the day the Gospel says Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed by the individuals, solely to be crucified 5 days later.
It marks the beginning of Holy Week main as much as Easter Sunday within the Roman Catholic Church on April 17 this 12 months. Its quite a few occasions will check the pope’s stamina.
Ukraine is predominantly Orthodox. Orthodox Christians rejoice Easter every week later, on April 24.
On the finish of the service, Francis was pushed across the crowd whereas seated in a open white “popemobile”, one thing he had not carried out for 3 years on Palm Sunday due to the pandemic.
(Reporting by Philip PullellaEditing by Barbara Lewis and Angus MacSwan)
