Francis says the Ukrainian crisis still could become an opportunity for wise statesman to build a better world.
As he does almost every week, the Pope urged prayer for peace in Ukraine and the whole world.
After praying the midday Angelus on July 3, he said this:
Getting worse
More than four months have passed since the beginning of the Russian offensive on Ukraine on February 24. Large-scale fighting is currently going on in the Donbass, especially in the city of Lissychansk, which is under siege by Russian forces. As well, Belarus, a country allied with Moscow, has accused Ukraine of having launched missiles on its territory.
Beyond Ukraine, other areas of tension have emerged in recent days, notably around the Kaliningrad enclave, a Russian territory bordering Poland and Lithuania, as well as in Scandinavia.
The blocking of supplies to a small Russian settlement on the island of Spitsbergen, under Norwegian sovereignty, has also become a subject of tension between Norway and Russia. In addition, the prospect of Finland and Sweden joining NATO has led to threats from Russia.
