Pope Francis calls on Ukraine not to let the conflict with Russia undermine support for religious freedom.
After a prayer service on Sunday, the Catholic leader criticized a new Ukrainian law banning churches with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, saying churches should not be victims of wars.
“When I think about the laws recently passed in Ukraine, I fear for the freedom of those who pray, because those who truly pray always pray for everyone,” the pope said, according to Religion News Service.
He continued: “Please do not let any Christian church be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches must not be touched!”
Ukraine bans churches with ties to Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the ban on several Orthodox Christian churches on Ukraine’s Independence Day on Saturday, a day before Pope Francis delivered his speech.
The new law gives churches nine months to cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, Vatican News reported. It comes in response to allegations that leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church provided key support to Russia during the war.
“Ukraine’s security service has accused the UOC of serving as a platform to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and says its churches are safe havens for spies. The organization has launched criminal proceedings against at least 100 UOC clergy, 26 of whom have already been convicted,” Religion News Service reported.
Vatican leaders are among those who have worked to resolve tensions surrounding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but they have failed to calm the fears of most Ukrainian officials — or most ordinary Ukrainians.
“A survey conducted in April by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 83% of Ukrainians believed the government should intervene in the activities of the UOC, while 63% supported a complete ban on the church,” Religion News Service reported.
Pope comments on Ukraine
Amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Pope Francis has prayed for peace and called on Catholics to pray for it.
According to Religion News Service, he continued that refrain this weekend.
“I continue to follow with sadness the fighting in Ukraine and the Russian Federation,” the pope said. “Let us continue to pray for an end to the wars, in Palestine, in Israel, in Myanmar and in every other region. The people are asking for peace! Let us pray that the Lord will give us all peace.”
