Foreign Ministry summons Vatican Nuncio over Pope's words on Dugina
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Visvaldas Kulbokas, to express disappointment with the words of Pope Francis about the death of Russian journalist Darya Dugina, reports the Foreign Ministry's press service on its official website.
"Visvaldas Kulbokas was told that Ukraine is deeply disappointed by the Pontiff's words, which unfairly equate the aggressor and the victim. At the same time, Pope Francis' decision to mention in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war the death of a Russian citizen on the Russian territory, which Ukraine has nothing to do with," the statement said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stressed during a briefing with his Italian counterpart in Kyiv that the very invitation of the Nuncio to the ministry is a case quite unprecedented and speaks for itself, reports ukrinform.
"I will say bluntly that the Ukrainian heart breaks at the Pope's words. It was unfair," Kuleba added.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry expressed hope that in the future the Vatican will avoid unfair statements "causing disappointment in Ukrainian society".
Earlier, the Pope called Darya Dugina an innocent victim of war.
Later, Ukraine's Ambassador to the Vatican, Andriy Yurash, criticized the pontiff for his words about the dead Russian journalist.
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.