Pope calls on Putin and Zelensky to stop the war

During Sunday's Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square in Rome, Pope Francis appealed to Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky to stop the war as quickly as possible, vaticannews.va reported.

"My appeal is addressed first and foremost to the President of the Russian Federation, imploring him to stop this spiral of violence and death, including for the sake of his own people. On the other hand, saddened at the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people as a result of the aggression they have suffered, I address an equally confident appeal to the President of Ukraine to be open to serious proposals for peace," the pope said.

The pope urged political leaders of states to support initiatives for dialogue.

"After seven months of hostilities, let us use all diplomatic means, even those that may not have been used so far, to bring an end to this terrible tragedy. War in itself is an error and a horror!," he added.

As the UOJ previously reported, Pope Francis facilitated the largest prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.

Read also

Prayers further offered for imprisoned UOJ journalists at Lavra's standing

People pray to the Lord to protect the "prisoners of conscience" from all sorrow, trouble, need, and illness.

Metropolitan Theodosiy's house arrest extended

The bishop participated in the hearing via videoconference, but opponents of the UOC were active near the courthouse.

Dumenko and Zoria discuss combating "Russian World" with Minister of Culture

Tochytskyi and representatives of the OCU discussed countering Russia’s attempts to destroy Ukraine's national identity.

Greek theologian: Religious situation in Ukraine divides Orthodoxy

According to the Greek theologian, "many Ukrainian Orthodox worshippers have been hesitant to leave the church under the Moscow Patriarchate and join the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, fearing a potential excommunication for being schismatics."  

OCU cleric blames TRC for forced mobilization and kidnapping of parishioners

It is reported that the mobilized person was helping with repair work in the church.

Greek theologian explains why Churches do not accuse ROC Primate of heresy

A professor from the University of Athens explained why no Orthodox Church had condemned Patriarch Kirill as heretic so far.