Controversy in the pontificate of Pope Francis

What will we remember from the pontificate of Pope Francis? The faithful appreciated his openness, modesty and directness, but there was also controversy, mainly because of his statements about the war in Ukraine. The words of Franciszek, who during the meeting with the bishops, were also widely echoed, that there was “too much gejesty” in the clergy seminars.

In May 2022 – three months after Russia's attack on a full -scale Ukraine The Pope stated in an interview with the daily “Corriere della Sera” that it is possible that “barking NATO at the door of Russia” prompted Putin to cause war.

This statement caused a wave of comments and dissatisfaction of a large group of publicists. In the discussion there were opinions such as “naivety”, “clumsy and political infantilism”, “unprepared”, “lapsus” of the pope.

There were also voices in defense of Francis. It was argued that the Pope born in Argentina He doesn't understand Europe where his ancestors come from.

In connection with the discussion in response to his words about “barking NATO at the door of Russia”, the Pope later explained that he had heard them two months before the outbreak of the war against Ukraine from one of the leaders of the state.

During a conversation with the editors of the Jesuit media from various countries, the Pope said: – A few months before the outbreak of war I met with the leader of the state, a wise man who says little, really very wise. After he talked about what he wanted to talk about, he told me that he was very concerned about how he was moving NATO. I asked him why, and he answered me: “They bark at the door of Russia and do not understand that the Russians are imperial and do not allow any foreign strength to approach them.”

– He concluded: “The situation can lead to war.” That was his opinion. On February 24, the war began. This head of the state was able to read the signs of what came – said Franciszek.

He also noted: – Someone can tell me in this situation that I am behind Putin. No, I'm not. It would be a simplification and a mistake to say something like that. I am simply against bringing the complexity to distinguishing between good and bad without reflection on the roots and interests that are very complicated. When we see wildness, the cruelty of Russian troops, we must not forget about problems to try to solve them.

– It is also true that the Russians thought that everything would end in a week. But they made a mistake in calculations. They found a brave nation that fights for survival and which has a history of fighting – said the Pope a few months after the outbreak of the war.

Way of the Cross with Ukrainian and Russian

Also in the first weeks of Russia's war against Ukraine with indignation, primarily in Kiev, information was adopted Vatican Together, the fact that considerations to one of the stations during the Way of the Cross in the Colosseum will write together friends: Ukrainian and Russian, working together in a hospital in Rome.

The text of the considerations was completely changed in the face of protests and concern about the Ukrainian community and embassy of Ukraine at the Holy See. Part of the Catholic media in Ukraine decided not to broadcast services from Rome.

Therefore, the previously announced text was canceled. When the women carried the cross together, the following words sounded: “In the face of death, silence is more eloquent than words. So let's stop in prayer silence and let everyone in their hearts pray for world peace.” Then there was silence.

Francis to young Russians: You are the heirs of great Russia

There was also controversy in 2023, when during the combination of video with young Russian Catholics the Pope said: – Never forget about your heritage. You are the heirs of great Russia: great Russia, rulers, great Russia Piotr I, Catherine II, this empire – the great, enlightened, country of great culture and great humanity. Never give up this heritage, you are the heirs of the great mother of Russia, continue it. And thank you. Thank you for your way of being, for your way of being Russians.

When asked by journalists about this wording during a conference on board a plane on the way from Mongolia to Rome, Francis explained that he did not mean imperialism when he talked about “great Russia”. – To express the concept of heritage, I said that the Russian heritage is very beautiful. Think about literature, music, Dostoyevsky, who today tells us about mature humanism – he added.

He explained that he meant a heritage that developed in art and in literature. – Maybe it was not happy, but when I talked about great Russia, maybe not in a geographical but cultural sense, I thought what they taught us at school: Piotr I, Katarzyna II – admitted the Pope.

“It was an association that occurred to me because I studied it at school,” he explained.

– What I told young Russians is to take over their heritage, which means – not to look for him elsewhere, to take them. And what heritage? Great Russia, Russian culture, beauty and great depth. This should not be crossed out by political problems – said Franciszek.

The Pope with “Course of the White Flag”

In March 2024, i.e. more than two years after the outbreak of the war, there was another controversy when Franciszek said in an interview with Swiss television: – The one who sees the situation, who thinks about the nation, who has the courage of the White Flag to negotiate. Today you can negotiate with the help of international powers.

– The word “negotiating” is brave. When you see that you are overcome, that things are not going well, you must have the courage to negotiate. Are you ashamed, but many killed will end? he added.

The phrase “White Flag”, even recognized as an incentive for surrender, met with criticism, also from European politicians. Minister of Foreign Affairs German Annalena Baerbock stated that “he did not understand” the words of the Pope.

“Or maybe, for balance, to encourage Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine?” – asked the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski On the X. platform “the room will take place immediately, without the need for negotiations” – he emphasized.

In view of the wave of criticism, the spokesman for the Vatican Matteo Bruni stated that the Pope picked up the term “white flag” used by the person conducting the interview and used it, “to indicate the cessation of hostilities and a truce achieved thanks to the courage of negotiations.”

Bruni added that the pope's desire is and always remains what has been repeated for years, or “creating conditions for a diplomatic solution in the pursuit of a fair and lasting peace”

Franciszek: Too much geys in seminars

Words have also been widely affected Pope Franciswho was supposed to say during a closed meeting with Italian bishops that there is “too much gejesty” in the clergy seminars. At the same time, he used the strong Italian word “Frociaggine”.

In this way he was to appeal to a greater selection in receiving candidates for the seminar.

In connection with the polemics, the Vatican spokesman said: – Pope Francis reads the recently published articles about the conversation with bishops from the Italian Episcopal Conference behind closed doors.

– As he said on various occasions, “There is a place for everyone in the church, for everyone! Nobody is unnecessary, no one is unnecessary, there is a place for everyone. For those who we are” – added the Vatican spokesman, recalling the words of the Pope.

– The Pope never intended to offend or speak in a homophobic way and directs his apologies to those who felt offended by using the wording cited by others – said spokesman Matteo Bruni.

In December 2023, Pope Francis authorized the priests to bless the same -sex couples. He also repeated that the regulations criminalizing people of the LGBT community are a sin and injustice because “God loves and accompanies homosexuals”.