Pope Francis' recent comments suggesting Ukraine should enter peace negotiations and potentially raise a 'white flag' have sparked a significant backlash among European officials and international figures. The controversy stems from an interview where the Pope was asked about his stance on the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, specifically regarding the debate over whether Ukraine should surrender, which would, in essence, legitimize the actions of the aggressor. EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell and others criticized the Pope's remarks, with Borrell stating that the Pope had 'entered a garden where no one invited him,' in an interview with Spanish Radio RNE. Additionally, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, emphasized that it is Putin who has the power to end the war, not Ukraine. Jens Stoltenberg and Radoslaw Sikorsky also weighed in, underscoring that surrender is not peace and proposing that the Pope encourage Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine. Cardinal Parolin later clarified that Francis' comments were in response to a specific question and insisted that 'negotiation is never a surrender.' Despite the controversy, Politico noted that the Pope's proposal raised a topic Europe is hesitant to discuss but is inevitably necessary.
Holy white flag: The Pope raises a ruckus with his choice of words in plea for peace. NEW #DiplomacyWatch w/ @connor_echols https://t.co/34VVTyzrh0
EU’s Borrell blasts Pope The pontiff suggested that Kiev should 'find the courage' to end the conflict with Moscow through talks https://t.co/K2leLACcaS https://t.co/ELVUjQh9Wn
Pope Francis, with his idea about the need for Ukraine to enter into peace negotiations, raised a topic that Europe does not dare to discuss. Politico writes about this. “The Pope’s proposal raised a topic that is toxic for Kyiv’s allies. But the time to talk will come,” the…
🇪🇺Borelj: The Pope "entered the garden" where no one invited him The head of the Roman Catholic Church Francisco, by calling on Ukraine to find courage and raise the white flag, entered a garden where no one invited him, said the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep… https://t.co/VHasdIlZGG
Pope Francis, with his idea about the need for Ukraine to go to peace negotiations, raised a topic that in Europe they do not dare to discuss; European leaders are afraid to talk about the idea of peace, Politico writes.
😤 EU diplomacy chief comments on remarks about "white flag" for Ukraine: Pope has entered garden where no one invited him https://t.co/WYfQX2xk5r
Pope Francis, with his idea about the need for Ukraine to enter into peace negotiations, raised a topic that Europe does not dare to discuss. But we will have to talk about peace - Politico. Interesting that it is written by Politico- the neocon publication.
Cardinal Parolin noted that Francis’ "white flag" comments were in response to a question that used the term, and that the pontiff subsequently insisted that "negotiation is never a surrender." @twthigherground https://t.co/CbDjZOsSWY
🛡️ Jens Stoltenberg commented on the Pope’s statement, saying that "surrender is not peace." 🇵🇱 Radoslaw Sikorsky addresses the Pope with a proposal to encourage Putin to withdraw his army from Ukraine. 👀 Read here: https://t.co/J4SyYvFcnt
👀 "It is Putin who has the power to immediately end the war and the suffering, not Ukraine," - stated Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, head of the Bundestag Defense Committee. ❗️"Before Ukrainian victims raise the white flag, the Pope must loudly and unmistakably call on the… https://t.co/HBya93zFOn
By calling for negotiations on Ukraine and a ceasefire, Pope Francis “went into a garden where no one invited him,” Josep Borrell said in an interview with Spanish radio station RNE. This clown with his garden once again, he can’t help himself 🤣🤡🤦♀️ https://t.co/H9uTLhFGmq
Pope Francis, who previously spoke out in favor of negotiations on Ukraine, mentioning the “white flag”, “climbed into a garden where no one invited him,” Borrell said in an interview with Spanish Radio RNE. According to him, offering Ukraine to surrender is “more than just a… https://t.co/buWd3qFTqc
🤔🏳️ In the interview, Pope was asked about his position on the debate between those who say that Ukraine should surrender and those who say it would legitimise the actions of the strongest party. The interviewer used the term “white flag” in the question. ❗️"But I think that… https://t.co/wkZJ6VIVyh
Pope Francis Waves a White Flag at Vladimir Putin https://t.co/4sFBgAjaRn
A Ukrainian soldier’s video in response to the Pope & his “white flag” 🤮 idea. Watch till the end. #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/P6ZBAtVEe0
A Ukrainian soldier’s video in response to the Pope & his “white flag” 🤮 idea. #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/DbJN9hHPF6