Rome — A somber Pope Francis denounced the "bloodbath in Bucha" and kissed a battered Ukrainian flag from the decimated city close to Ukraine's capital on Wednesday throughout his weekly common viewers on the Vatican.
"Latest information from the warfare in Ukraine, as a substitute of bringing reduction and hope, introduced new atrocities, such because the bloodbath of Bucha," he mentioned towards the top of the viewers.
"Cruelty that's more and more horrendous, additionally in opposition to civilians, defenseless ladies and kids. They're victims whose harmless blood cries out as much as heaven and implores: 'Cease this warfare! Let the weapons fall silent! Cease sowing loss of life and destruction'," mentioned Francis.
The pope then held up the stained Ukrainian flag and invited a gaggle of Ukrainian refugee youngsters accompanied by two ladies to affix him on the podium. He folded the flag and kissed it.
"These youngsters needed to flee and are available to an odd land. This is among the fruits of warfare," he mentioned. "Let's not neglect them, and let's not neglect the Ukrainian individuals."
It's estimated that about 90% of the greater than 4.2 million Ukrainian refugees who've fled their nation since Russia invaded on February 24 are ladies and kids.
A day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the United Nations of failing to cease Russia's brutal assault on his nation, Pope Francis echoed the sentiment.
After World Warfare II, nations tried to put the foundations for a "new period of peace," the pontiff mentioned on Wednesday, "however sadly the outdated story of competitors between the larger powers went on, and within the present warfare in Ukraine, we're witnessing the impotence of worldwide organizations."
Francis has pleaded incessantly for the cessation of hostilities for the reason that begin of Russia's warfare in Ukraine. The pope has confirmed that he is contemplating a visit to Kyiv, and that Vatican diplomats are working behind the scenes in a bid to cease the warfare.