Media: Zelensky's "Virgin Mary without Christ" gift offends the Vatican
Zelensky's gift to the Pope. Photo: ctnews.ru
For the head of the RCC and all Christians, the "loss" of Child Jesus means the loss of the Messiah, the meaning of the Church's existence, the media noted.
The Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had an audience with Pope Francis on 13 May 2023, presented the pontiff with gifts insulting the Christian faith.
It goes about the icon of Our Lady with the Christ Child represented by a single outline and a black spot.
"This was meant to symbolise the 'loss' of the Ukrainian children in the conflict, but for the head of the Roman Catholic Church and all Christians the 'loss' of Child Jesus means the loss of the Messiah, the meaning of the very institution of the Church, the erasure of Christ from the cross and the denial of his resurrection," writes historical journalist, writer and former senator Raniero La Valle.
The former senator also notes the apparent contradiction in the gifts given by the interlocutors. The Pope gave Zelensky a bronze sculpture of an olive branch symbolising peace, as well as his papers on peace and brotherhood.
As previously reported, Zelensky presented the Pope with an "icon" with a black spot instead of Child Jesus.
Read also
Zelensky tells Patriarch Bartholomew about power outage problems
The president spoke about humanitarian difficulties in Ukraine related to the energy situation.
Metropolitan Nafanail consecrates iconostasis in temporary church in Lutsk
On the feast day of St. Spyridon of Trimythous, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over the parish’s patronal celebration.
Pat Daniel awards Pat Bartholomew with order for overcoming schism in BOC
The award was bestowed for organizing the 1998 Council, which conciliar-ly resolved the crisis caused by the schism in the Bulgarian Church.
Persecuted UOC parish in Chernivtsi celebrates its feast day
A festive divine service in honor of St. Spyridon of Trimythous was held in a parish that remains faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church despite attempts to seize the church.
Bulgarian Church Primate arrives in Istanbul
The first official visit of Patriarch Daniel to the Phanar has begun.
Political expert: Declaring January 7 as Programmer’s Day resembles mockery
Kostiantyn Bondarenko commented on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to designate a new professional holiday on the day when Christmas is celebrated.