Pope Francis pleads for peace as Ukraine enters ‘Easter of war’

Pontiff criticises Kremlin for unleashing ‘cruel and senseless’ conflict

The Pope’s Easter Sunday address was the first delivered to a packed St Peter’s Square since before the pandemic. Reuters

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Pope Francis prayed for peace on Sunday, using his papal speech to bemoan an Easter of War in Ukraine and criticise Russia implicitly for attacking its neighbour.

Addressing a packed St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday for the first time since 2019, the pontiff said the world had seen “all too much blood, all too much violence” since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February.

He did not condemn Russia by name, but said Ukraine had been “sorely tried by the violence and the destruction of the cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged”, rejecting the Kremlin’s terminology of a “special military operation”.

The Pope said the world was shocked by the war in Ukraine, just as the disciples were in awe at finding Jesus alive after his crucifixion.

“Our eyes, too, are incredulous in this Easter of war,” Pope Francis said. “Our hearts, too, have been filled with fear and anguish as so many of our brothers and sisters have had to lock themselves away in order to be safe from bombing.”

“Let there be a decision for peace,” he said. “May there be an end to the flexing of muscles while people are suffering.”

The UN says about 2,000 civilians have died during the seven-week conflict, with thousands more soldiers estimated to have been killed on either side.

The war has left Ukrainian cities in dire humanitarian straits and led to allegations of war crimes.

Pope Francis thanked those who had taken in refugees from Ukraine.

He called for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, and among the people of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is due to visit the African nation in July.

The pontiff called for worshippers and pilgrims in Jerusalem to “dwell in fraternity and enjoy free access to the holy places”, after more than 150 people were wounded in violence at Al Aqsa Mosque on Friday.

“On this glorious day, let us ask for peace upon Jerusalem and peace upon all those who love her, Christians, Jews and Muslims alike,” he said.

He addressed the crowd from a balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square, giving most of his speech sitting down, after celebrating an Easter Sunday Mass with worshippers. On Saturday night he attended but did not preside over an Easter vigil service.

Applause erupted from many of the 50,000 people in the square and on a nearby avenue when he mentioned Ukraine.

In London, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for Russia to declare a ceasefire and withdraw from Ukraine. The leader of the Anglican church said Easter was a time for peace and not “blood and iron”.

He urged Moscow to commit to peace talks to mark the start of Holy Week in the Eastern Orthodox calendar, which is followed by many worshippers in Russia and Ukraine.