The Church should not use the language of politics, but the language of Jesus, Pope Francis told Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill during their talks on Ukraine, the Vatican reports.
The head of the Catholic Church made a video call with Patriarch Kirill, a key supporter of President Vladimir Putin’s ruling apparatus, in which he said they should be “united in their efforts to promote peace” after Russia’s February 24 invasion.
Russian Patriarch Kirill also discussed the conflict in Ukraine with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
On Tuesday, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitaliy Klitschko, called on Pope Francis to visit the city despite the war, saying his presence was key to saving lives and achieving peace, according to Reuters.
“We believe that the personal presence (of the Pope) in Kyiv is the key to saving lives and finding a way to peace in our city, country and elsewhere,” Klitschko wrote. If a personal visit is not possible, the mayor suggested holding a live or recorded video conference, which will also be attended by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. “We urge you, as a spiritual leader, to show compassion, to stand by the Ukrainian people, spreading the call for peace,” the letter said, confirming the mayor’s spokeswoman.