Pontiff says 'imperial interests' drive Ukraine war, not just Russian
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Pope Francis says Russia is not the only empire fueling the war in Ukraine.
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Pope Francis exchanges his skull cap with one he received from the faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 (AP).
In an interview with the Italian-Swiss TV RSI on Friday, Pope Francis argued that the war in Ukraine has been driven by "imperial interests" stressing that "not just of the Russian empire, but of empires from elsewhere."
The Pontiff also voiced his readiness to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged for peace.
It is worth noting that the televised interview is set to be broadcasted on Sunday, however, several newspapers, such as La Repubblica, La Stampa, and Corriere della Sera, published extracts earlier on Friday.
The Holy See press office released a statement in August 2022 saying that Pope Francis' statements regarding the conflict in Ukraine should not be taken as a political position, but as a "voice in defense of human life."
At the time, the Pope and other officials of the Vatican had made several statements regarding the war in Ukraine. According to the Holy See, these statements aim to "invite pastors and the faithful to prayer" to rebuild peace.
This came after Pope Francis commented on the death of Russian journalist Darya Dugina, saying it is an example of "the madness of war," and of the "innocents" who pay its price.
Read more: 'Hands off Africa!': Pope Francis decries Western exploitation
