Pope Francis Rejects Abolition of Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine
Pope Francis, Aug. 2024. Photo: X/ @Malek65At
August 25, 2024 Hour: 9:23 am
‘Let those who want to pray do so in the church they consider their own,’ he said.
On Sunday, Pope Francis demanded that no Christian church be abolished “directly or indirectly” in Ukraine following the approval of a law that prohibits ties with the Moscow Orthodox Patriarchate.
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“Churches must not be touched,” declared the Argentine pontiff after the recitation of the Sunday Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace.
Francis acknowledged before the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square that he continues to “follow with sorrow the fighting in Ukraine and the Russian Federation” and expressed his concern “for the freedom of those who pray” following “the recently approved regulations in Kyiv.”
“Anyone who truly prays, prays for everyone. No harm is done by praying, and if someone commits harm against their people, they will be guilty of that, but they cannot have done wrong by praying. Therefore, let those who want to pray do so in the church they consider their own… Please, let no Christian church be suppressed directly or indirectly. Churches must not be touched,” Francis said.
On August 20, the Ukrainian Parliament approved a law that prohibits the operation of religious organizations with strong ties to Russia, paving the way for a possible ban on the activities of the Orthodox Church.
The law will come into effect 30 days after the Parliament publishes the text. From that moment, parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate will have a period of nine months to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church.
The goal of the Ukrainian authorities is to advance what has been termed “Spiritual Independence” and cut ties with Patriarch Kirill, who yesterday appealed to Pope Francis for support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, views the church linked to Moscow as an appendage of the Kremlin aimed at weakening the Ukrainian cause and promoting pro-Russian ideology.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE