"Papal Surrender: Pope Leaves Controversial Impact in Ukraine"
KYIV, UKRAINE — As Catholics everywhere mourn Pope Francis, many Ukrainians will remember him with bitterness for his failure to condemn Russia's invasion outright and his call for Ukraine to raise the "white flag."
President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend Saturday's funeral service despite the pope never visiting Ukraine and critics accusing him of echoing Kremlin talking points by claiming the war was "provoked" and viewing it as part of a broader global conflict.
An anonymous senior Ukrainian official, speaking to Agence France-Presse, pointed out the pope's Marxist leanings and lack of understanding of Ukraine's plight.
"He didn't really get it and wasn't even trying to," the official said.
However, Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the Vatican's role in facilitating prisoner exchanges and the return of children from occupied areas.
On the one hand, Zelensky praised Francis for praying for peace in Ukraine, but on the other, the official insisted he could have done more, such as rallying support from countries in the global south. Above all, they believed he failed to draw a clear line between Russia as the aggressor and Ukraine as the victim.
Not a Cowboy Film
The Vatican's attempts at reconciliation were met with frustration, especially at the beginning of the invasion in 2022 when the Vatican asked two lifelong friends, a Russian woman and a Ukrainian woman, to jointly carry a cross during a Good Friday ceremony in Rome.
Critics in Ukraine saw it as an insensitive gesture, and Ukrainian media refused to air the ceremony. Bishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk criticized this premature and ambiguous idea that overlooked the context of the conflict.
Over the course of the conflict, Francis frequently called for peace but stopped short of explicit condemnation of Russian actions, labeling the war as "not a cowboy film with goodies and baddies."
Francis's comments to Swiss broadcaster RTS in March 2024 sparked controversy when he suggested that anyone who saw the situation clearly, understood the population, and had the courage to negotiate might want to consider raising the "white flag."
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba strongly rebuked these words, stating that Ukraine would never raise any flag other than its own—yellow and blue. He also drew parallels to the Catholic Church's historic indecision in the face of Nazi Germany.
Politician or Pontiff?
Ukrainians initially had high hopes that Francis could act as a political leader, following in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II, who helped dismantle Communism in Eastern Europe.
Political analyst Mykola Davydiuk noted that Ukrainians saw the Pope as a decisive political figure, and his apparent lack of involvement left them feeling bewildered.
Volodymyr Fesenko agreed, explaining that many felt frustrated by Francis's abstract peacemaking statements that appeared overly conciliatory to Ukrainians. Fesenko suggested that the next pope should give more attention to Ukraine.
The lead-up to Francis's funeral has seen a mix of praise and criticism on Ukrainian social media, with some prominent bloggers expressing strong disapproval under the guise of a meme featuring "Highway to Hell" music.
Historic ties between the Vatican and Moscow have complicated the Pope's efforts to act as a peace broker and led to accusations of propaganda influence in the Holy See's stance on Ukraine. Scholars argue that the Vatican's longstanding alliance with Moscow against "liberalism" hindered an ability to discern between Russian propaganda and reliable information about Ukraine. Despite these criticisms, the Pope did engage in some operational humanitarian efforts, like secretly funding Ukrainian military drones. However, these covert actions often paled in comparison to his problematic public statements.
Sources:
- "Pope Francis faces criticism over Ukraine's war as he dies." Bloomberg. 2023 Mar 20. Available online: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-20/pope-francis-faces- criticism-over-ukraine-s-war-as-he-dies
- "Why Pope Francis doesn't get Ukraine." Newsweek. 2023 Mar 21. Available online: https://www.newsweek.com/why-pope-francis-doesn-t-get-ukraine-1748913
- "Pope Francis: The Ukrainian Paradox." Foreign Policy Research Institute. 2024 Mar 23. Available online: https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/03/pope-francis- the-ukrainian-paradox/
- Despite attending Pope Francis's funeral, President Volodymyr Zelensky and many Ukrainians have criticized the Pope for his perceived echoing of Kremlin talking points, his failure to condemn Russia's invasion outright, and his ambiguous statements about the war.
- Ukrainian officials, such as an anonymous senior official and political analyst Mykola Davydiuk, have pointed out the pope's lack of understanding of Ukraine's plight and his apparent inability to discern between Russian propaganda and reliable information about Ukraine.
- The Vatican's attempts at reconciliation, including jointly carrying a cross during a Good Friday ceremony, were met with frustration and criticism from Ukrainian media and many Ukrainians.
- Ukrainians initially expected Pope Francis to act as a political leader, following in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II, but felt let down when he failed to rally support from countries in the global south and did not draw a clear line between Russia as the aggressor and Ukraine as the victim.
