Pope Francis calls for an Easter truce in Ukraine

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis opened Holy Week Sunday with a call for an Easter truce in Ukraine to make room for a negotiated peace, highlighting the need for leaders to “make some sacrifices for the good of the people.”

Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass before crowds in St. Peter’s Square for the first time since the pandemic, Pope Francis called for “weapons to be laid down to begin an Easter truce, not to reload weapons and resume fighting, no! A truce to reach peace through real negotiations.”

Francis did not refer directly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the reference was clear, and he has repeatedly denounced the war and the suffering brought to innocent civilians.

During the traditional Sunday blessing following Palm Sunday Mass, the pontiff said leaders should be “willing to make some sacrifices for the good of the people.”



Pope Francis greets the faithful as he leaves after celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 10, 2022. The Roman Catholic Church enters Holy Week, retracing the story of the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-calls-for-easter-truce-russia-ukraine-229d01210f3fb6e02f4cb5c42e46c4c5

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Orthodox Easter is a week later than the Catholic one this year

and it looks like the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church follow the Orthodox calendar on this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Greek_Catholic_Church#Ukrainian_diaspora

Not sure Francis has any influence left over the Russian Orthodox leader, who is a bloodthirsty SoB: https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/russias-patriarch-kirill-defends-invasion-ukraine-stoking-orthodox-tensions

[EndlessWire]

11. That's a good point.

I was wondering about that. I am not Catholic, but I was wondering how anyone lesser than the Pope can advocate for Putin. That guy is really making Catholicism look bad. Why can't the Pope put him in his place? He should call him out and make him travel to the Vatican to explain himself.

But, maybe that church is separate from the Pope? I dunno. I thought they were Catholic.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. The Russian Orthodox are entirely separate from the Catholics, but they used to talk meaningfully

to each other (and the Pope will still have proper relations with the Greek Orthodox patriarchs). But Kirill has thrown his lot in with Putin - gone for the money and power associated with the Russian state, rather than reading his bible (or just thinking about morals).

[EndlessWire]

13. TY. n/t

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. I don't get it

Why can't he just PRAY the war away and save all those children?

[2naSalit]

3. That's nice.

I'm sure that will make those disgusting russians stop and think.

[Marthe48]

4. Don't fall for it, Ukraine

putin will make it a trick.

[MontanaMama]

5. Calling for a truce implies

that this is a two sided conflict. Ukraine has every right to keep defending itself against the war criminals who invaded and are committing atrocities all day every day. Calling for a truce is ridiculous.

[Historic NY]

6. He needs to call out the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church

Patriarch Kirill for bowing down to Putin and supporting the killing in Ukraine.


[link:https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/head-russias-orthodox-church-calls-people-rally-around-authorities-2022-04-10/|]

[JI7]

7. Has he directly condemned Putin and told him to stop ?

[haele]

8. Not going to happen. ROC head Kyrill sees this as a battle against the Satanic West.

And Putin is counting on the Russian Orthodox Church to validate his position and keep Russian peasants in line.

Kyrill is former KGB, as was his predecessor. The ROC was always entwined with Russian and Soviet government s.

Haele

[dalton99a]

9. Pope requests mass murderer to take a break

[Permanut]

10. "..for the good of the people."..

How about making a sacrifice and sending Zelensky, say, a billion dollars?