A Pope from a very faraway country

From the beginning of the full-blown Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis, a Jesuit, has been calling for an immediate end to the fighting on both sides. He avoids labeling Russia as the sole aggressor and believes that NATO also shares responsibility for the war and its atrocities. He used the metaphor of NATO “barking” at Russia’s door to illustrate his point. The Pope emphasized that everyone is responsible, quoting  Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s  famous line, “We are all to blame.” He also acknowledged that some mercenaries and Ukraine, with its allies, are accountable, too.

A remarkable nation and a humanist from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Last November, he expressed his admiration for the Russian people and government, stating that they are a great nation not known for cruelty. He also spoke highly of the Russian Ambassador to the Holy See, describing him as a good man and humanist who advocates for equality. During the interview, he mentioned that the arms industry is the most deplorable factor nationwide, causing much suffering.

Francis doesn’t differentiate between aggressive and defensive armaments when he criticizes them, even though defensive weapons can save the lives of those attacked. Anti-aircraft systems can often intercept and destroy missiles, potentially saving hundreds of lives. In general, Pope undermines the sense of any war effort, even the Allied soldiers in World War II.

During an interview with Telemundo, Francis stated that Kyiv opposed peace talks due to the strength of the pro-Ukrainian bloc, which includes Europe and the United States. It implies that the West is separate from the Catholic Church and overlooks other reasons why Ukraine may not want to negotiate with Vladimir Putin.

While he acknowledges the hardships faced by Ukrainians and makes an effort to show compassion towards Ukrainian refugees, he tends to contextualize their sufferings within the framework of other wars. He refrains from identifying the root cause of Ukraine’s misery and instead draws comparisons to other conflicts and forms of distress worldwide. However, the war in Ukraine stands out due to its significant size and global impact.

He also inscribes the suffering of Ukrainians into the alleged absolute nightmare of Russians during the Way of the Cross in the Colosseum in 2022 and 2023, when once a Ukrainian woman was juxtaposed with a Russian woman, and then a Ukrainian child with a Russian child. He spoke about Russian soldiers as misfortunate individuals. Also, he described  Daria Dugina as poor and innocent.

Furthermore, despite the persecution faced by Russian and Belarusian oppositionists, the Vatican has not provided any words of support, not even general and diplomatic ones. It’s worth noting that there haven’t been any meetings recently, which is different from the time of Pope John Paul II. He actively supported dissidents from behind the Iron Curtain and met with them.

Despite diplomatic efforts intensifying in recent weeks, it’s unlikely that anything positive has come from them.

What is peace?

The Pope recently visited Hungary, where the country’s stance on the conflict in Ukraine differs from that of other EU and NATO nations. Some believe that Hungary is pro-Russian and pro-Chinese. During the pilgrimage, the Pope and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire without preconditions to achieve peace. Orbán presents himself as an advocate of peace and considers all those who help the invaded country supporters of the war.

Jeffrey Sachs, an American economist known in Poland as a promotor of the “shock therapy” of the economy, advocates for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of support for Ukraine. Sachs, now an advisor to the Holy See in the esteemed position of a Papal Academician, was previously a neoliberal but claims to have changed his views to be more socially sensitive. Despite this, his economic opinions are seldom heard, except for his criticism of Western support for Ukraine.

Returning from Hungary, Pope Francis spoke about peace talks and the Holy See’s mediation. However, Kyiv was surprised by these words.

Then, after a meeting with the Pope in the Vatican, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine does not need such mediation. These are very harsh words in diplomacy. And yet, the Holy See announced that it would send a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia.

Unlike Ukraine, Russia, or China, the Vatican’s diplomatic approach reveals no preconditions or peace plan. Their only request is for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The sending of the mission was accompanied by the words that Ukraine wanted to avoid having direct communication with Russia due to the strength of the pro-Ukrainian faction. In the same interview, Francis mentioned Russia’s interest in initiating talks. However, despite such claims, Ukrainian citizens are experiencing daily attacks from bombs and drones. These attacks are meant to pressure Ukraine into ending their counter-offensive and surrendering their occupied territories during peace talks. This context explains Francis’ statements.

Another background aspect to consider is the tour of China’s special envoy Li Hui, who promoted the Chinese peace plan. However, there were concerns that he may have crossed the line with the Europeans during the tour, and some diplomats were upset when the details of their conversations were leaked to The Wall Street Journal and caused a scandal.

Russia and China, not the G7

Francis often emphasizes the importance of a multipolar world and brotherhood between people in his calls for peace. At the beginning of his pontificate, he said to go to the periphery, which also means the edge of the world. Certain peripheral voices are given more attention, while others, like Ukraine, are overlooked. This issue extends beyond Ukraine as only two representatives from Central and Eastern Europe have been nominated for Cardinal positions during the pontificate of Francis. Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Papal Almoner, and Kaunas Cardinal Sigitas Tamkevićius Metropolitan retired. The other hierarchy is a pensioner, so it’s instead a symbolic nomination. Cardinal Krajewski served as the Pope’s representative in Ukraine last year. He was highly regarded for his actions, including visiting locations where Russian crimes were committed and traveling to the front lines to provide aid. He made the Stations of the Cross in Bucza. He even experienced being under fire from the Russians. However, the Vatican’s peace mission will now be led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Head of the Italian Episcopate, instead of the Polish priest.

Russia, China, Iran, and Alyaksandr Lukashenka talk about the multipolar world as intensively as the Holy See. In this rhetoric, the term “multipolar world” refers to a global order that differs from the current one dominated by the US and the West. This idea has been promoted by countries such as Russia, China, Middle Eastern dictatorships, South American nations, and India for several decades. Russia openly admits to starting its aggression against Ukraine, hoping to change the current international system, which it deems unfair. This concept contrasts US President Joe Biden’s vision of a world in which the forces of freedom and tyranny are in conflict, as expressed in his speech in Warsaw.

In a multipolar world, non-democratic or totalitarian countries may have more influence than the West, potentially leading to a shift in global power dynamics. Is this what Francis is going for? He starts from different assumptions, promoting brotherhood. But is the brotherhood between tyranny and democracy, aggressor and attacked, executioner and victim possible? Can people socialize freely when some societies are democratic and open while others are governed by oppressive regimes that suppress non-compliant organizations?

History has shown that what can come out of this is not brotherhood but, at most, the balance of power proclaimed by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. A few years ago, he was also an advisor to the Holy See. Kissinger, however, recently changed his position a bit, not excluding the fact that Ukraine could be admitted to NATO.

Although the topic may seem political, Pope Francis maintains that he is not involved in politics. During an interview with Telemundo, he declined to answer the question about Russia’s aggression, even when asked twice. Additionally, Pope stated that the issue of borders is a political problem, suggesting that he chooses not to address the matter because he does not involve himself in politics.

The leader of the Church made a surprising statement last year, claiming that he did not comprehend the situation in Ukraine due to its distance from his location. Ukrainian territory seems too far away. However, this is quite interesting considering that the Church’s initial apostles had reached the Black Sea basin, which holds great importance in the Catholic faith. Catholics believe that the Mother of God was assumed into heaven in Turkey, located in the Black Sea basin. Moreover, this region has been greatly influenced by ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome. It’s also important to note that the distance from Rome, where the Pope is based, to Argentina is significantly greater than the distance to Ukraine. 

He is placing himself as an apolitical arbiter who also claims to lack a clear understanding of the situation in Ukraine and has vague views on other matters. It makes it difficult to discern his true intentions and beliefs. His statements may seem mysterious and leave room for interpretation. Although the Pope and his diplomats are involved in international politics and desire to influence decisions, he presents their actions as motivated by morality rather than politics. His words hold sway over Catholics globally and carry political implications. It remains unchanged even though the Catholic Church and the Pope have limited authority today.

Moral discourse makes it difficult to discuss the Pope’s and the Church’s activities because how to moralize the Pope? An agreement to change borders through force is considered morally questionable as it could justify accompanying war atrocities and lead to further conflicts and wrongdoing. It contradicts the values promoted by the Pope. Similarly, when a prominent figure calls for an immediate ceasefire without preconditions, it only reinforces Putin’s actions and boosts his standing. It can be challenging for the 1.5 billion Catholics globally, particularly those in positions of power within the Church and state, to dissociate themselves from the Pope’s views on crucial issues, even though the doctrine of papal infallibility does not necessarily apply. 

It’s a paradox because although Italy is part of the G7 group, which the Pope distances himself from, the Vatican has strong ties with the country. Italy’s current right-wing Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, also references the Church’s social teachings. Under her leadership, Italy is in the vanguard of Ukraine’s military and other ways of support. At the recent Council of Europe summit in Iceland, Meloni criticized cynical propaganda that substitutes the word “peace” with “invasion.”

The Church is the oldest institution in the Western world. However, the current voice of the Pope may come across as reminiscent of totalitarian countries that oppress and even kill Christians rather than the free and democratic countries that are historically associated with the Church. It is worth noting that the Church’s capital is located in Rome, which strengthens its connection to Western history.

Francis’ remarks have received adverse reactions in Ukraine, Poland, and other Western countries, including the Episcopates. However, this sentiment is not universal. The Catholic Church has followers in non-European countries, such as Latin America and Africa, where people may need help comprehending the situation in Ukraine and Russia. Rather than clarifying the issue, the Pope has made it more confusing by adding ambiguity. Some individuals in Europe and North America may use this as an excuse to justify their reluctance to support Ukraine. It is important to note that support for Ukraine in the West is not settled.

Apart from Hungary, the Holy See is the only European country that acknowledges Alyaksandr Lukashenka as the President of Belarus. The Pope has not condemned Lukashenka’s offenses, which include the persecution of Catholics and the Catholic Church in Belarus. Additionally, during the migration crisis on the border with Poland caused by Lukashenka, the Vatican condemned Warsaw.

The visual appearance could be improved, but this approach has not effectively resolved the disagreement between the Pope and a large part of the Church in Europe or the USA. The Vatican’s recent peace offensive was unsuccessful, which was unsurprising given the Western countries’ commitment to helping Ukraine. However, Vatican diplomats may still need to recognize this determination fully.

At the G7 summit in Japan, the leaders emphasized that Volodymyr Zelensky’s stance on withdrawing Russian troops from all Ukrainian lands is crucial for peace talks. In addition, London provided Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, and there was a joint decision to increase Ukraine’s armament even further. Work has also begun on transferring aircraft, such as the F-16, to Ukraine.

Return to the past?

The situation of the Church in Ukraine is also a concern. The actions of the Holy See have caused trouble for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which has remained loyal to Rome despite persecution from Moscow for centuries. The position presented by Rome is difficult for Ukrainian Catholics of different rites to accept, especially when compared to the clear stance taken by the Patriarch of Constantinople, who granted autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

It needs to be clarified what motivates the Holy See’s policy. While many unverifiable or conspiratorial theories exist, let’s assume that the Holy See is acting in good faith and with competence. Some speculate that Francis is trying to look after Catholics globally, including in Russia. However, what about the situation in Ukraine and European Catholics who oppose Russia’s actions and want to live in peace? What about the suffering of Catholics in Ukraine due to the ongoing war or those in Belarus persecuted by the regime?

It’s possible that the Pope has a secret and cunning plan to bring peace and is intentionally keeping his strategies confidential. However, at the moment, there have been no noticeable outcomes other than the participation in the prisoner exchange, which was also confirmed by the Ukrainian side. Another goodwill explanation is that the Church wants to show its efforts to promote peace, perhaps to boost it’s declining authority. However, its superiority has weakened even further since February 24, 2022. Despite the Western world’s hunger for values and goodness in the face of war, the Church failed to capitalize on this opportunity as a global institution.

Although Francis’ personality, life experience, and vital worldview from a distant Argentina influenced some aspects, not everything can be attributed to him. After John Paul II’s death, there was a shift away from his bold and independent international policy. Francis fits into this new approach, making him less of a revolutionary and modernizer than some may believe. The Vatican’s current guideline, which the Pope prefers not to call politics, draws from past trends, such as the non-aligned movement of the Cold War era and 19th-century politics, rather than forging new paths or visionary ideas. 

At the moment, we haven’t seen any evidence of Jesuit cunning or efficient Vatican diplomacy. While there’s a possibility that there’s a plot twist and everything works out for the better, the chances of that happening are slim. Therefore, it is far-fetched that critics will need to retract their earlier remarks.

Marcin Herman, belsat.eu

Translated by PEV.