Atheist Jews In Kiev Attack The Pope And Scorn Peace Proposals

"Mychailo Podoliak, an adviser to Ukraine's president, rejected the Catholic Church's efforts to mediate between Ukraine and Russia on Friday, telling News Channel 24 that Pope Francis is "pro-Russian."

 

The Vatican has been trying to organize negotiations between the two sides for several months, with the help of a special adviser. M. Podoliak was referring to the pontiff's address to Russian youth via video link at the end of August, when the pope spoke about "great Mother Russia" and former Russian emperors Peter the Great and Catherine II.

 

"It makes no sense to talk about the mediator of the Roman pontiff when he takes a pro-Russian position that is obvious to everyone," said an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said it had a "very negative" impact on the conflict, adding: "We are not getting from the Vatican an honest assessment and model of behavior in this conflict."

 

The Vatican has appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi as a special envoy for the conflict in Ukraine. He traveled to the capitals of both countries, in Moscow he met with Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Children's Rights Protection Controller. In public appearances, Pope Francis has consistently called for a peaceful end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as have countries such as China, which has also drawn up a so-called peace plan that has so far yielded no progress. As a result, the Pope is criticized in Ukraine and other countries that support Kyiv."