Yelensky: The Pope "regrets" his words about Mother Russia
Viktor Yelensky. Photo: Ukrinform
The Head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics, Viktor Yelensky, stated to Radio Svoboda that, according to his information, the Pope "regrets" his words about the glorification of the Russian Empire.
"I also know that the Pope believed that Catherine and Peter (Russian tsars Catherine II and Peter I) were, in the context of Russian history stained with blood, truly Europeans who tried to bring Russia closer to Europe. And that's why he spoke about heritage. But there's no need to justify him by saying he didn't say what he actually said," Yelensky said.
He also recalled that the Pope has repeatedly expressed support for Ukraine but at the same time "attempted to equate the aggressor and the victim of aggression".
As earlier reported, Pope Francis called on Russians to be heirs of the great empire, the great Mother Russia.
Read also
Ukraine now allows matronymics alongside patronymics
Ukrainian legislation has allowed people to change their patronymic since 2021, including replacing the father's name with the mother's name.
Kharkiv's gay community announces LGBT march
At the pride march in Kharkiv, participants will demand the legalization of same-sex marriages in Ukraine.
Ukrainians criticize official who called pilgrimage to Pochaiv "horrifying"
Threads users did not support the head of the "Ancient Kyiv" Reserve, Roman Malenkov, who called the UOC pilgrimage "a horrifying horror."
Metropolitan Alexiy of Voznesensk consecrates chapel in Velyka Solona
The ruling bishop of the Voznesensk Eparchy performed the consecration of the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia.
UOC draws 7 times more worshippers than OCU in Kerstentsi on Transfiguration
More than 300 faithful attended the UOC parish’s patronal feast in Kerstentsi.
Sybiha invites Putin to take Dmitry Donskoy’s place in sarcophagus
Ukraine’s foreign minister commented on reports that part of the relics of Holy Prince Dmitry Donskoy could be sent to Russian troops.