Pope Francis wants peace in Ukraine
and his use of the white flag image in an interview with Swiss
TV was aimed at pushing the sides to dialogue, Deputy Premier
and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday.
"I believe that Pope Francis was being the pope, he gave a
message of peace," Tajani told La7.
"It was made clear that the pope wants peace and was not siding
with Russia," he added.
"I interpreted his message as that of someone who wants to fight
for peace. He is not a politician, but a spiritual guide for all
Catholics and for the Christian world. I believe his message was
aimed at pushing the parties involved to work for peace,"
continued Tajani.
Kyiv on Sunday reacted strongly to Francis after he used the
image of a white flag in an interview with Radio Téleévision
Suisse (RTS) to appeal to Ukraine to have the courage of
negotiation
to end the war by the Russian invasion in February 2022.
In a portion of the interview released ahead of the full
broadcast on March 20 the pope says: "The stronger one is the
one who sees the
situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the
white flag, to negotiate".
"And today, negotiations are possible with the help of
international powers. The word 'negotiate' is a courageous word.
When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going
well, it is necessary to have the courage to negotiate. You may
feel ashamed, but with how many deaths will it end? Negotiate in
time; look for some country that can mediate," he continues.
"Today, for example in the war in Ukraine, there are many who
want to mediate. Turkey has offered itself for this. And others.
Do not be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse," he
concludes.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on X that his
country would never raise any flag other than its national flag
in yellow and
blue.
"Our flag is yellow and blue. This is the flag with which we
live, die and win. We will never raise any other flag," said
Kuleba.
The Holy See however denied that the pope was asking Ukraine to
surrender.
Vatican press office director Matteo Bruni said "the Pope uses
the term white flag, and responds by picking up the image
proposed by the interviewer, to indicate a cessation of
hostilities, a truce reached with the courage of negotiation".
"Elsewhere in the interview, speaking of another situation of
conflict, but referring to every situation of war, the Pope
clearly stated: 'Negotiations are never a surrender'," he added.
"The Pope's hope is and remains that which he has always
repeated in these years, and reiterated recently on the occasion
of the second anniversary of the conflict: 'As I renew my very
deep affection for the martyred Ukrainian people and pray for
all, especially for the many innocent victims, I implore that a
little bit of humanity can be found that allows the creation of
the conditions for a diplomatic solution in search of a just and
lasting peace'," concluded Bruni.
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