Pope Francis has condemned the killing of civilians in the Kiev suburb of Bukha by the Russian army and renewed his call for an end to the war in Ukraine. Speaking at his general hearing in the Vatican on Wednesday, the pope called for an end to the “atrocities” observed in Bouha, where the bodies of civilians were found scattered in the streets. “Even more horrific atrocities are taking place, even against civilians, women and children. “They are victims whose innocent blood cries out to heaven and begs,” he said. Russia has repeatedly denied the alleged atrocities, despite growing evidence to the contrary. Responding to accusations by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia called the allegations against the Russian military “baseless.” Pope with a group of Ukrainian refugee children: The Pope unfurled a Ukrainian flag, which he said “came from the martyr city of Bukha” and kissed it. The move was met with applause from the audience. Francis then invited a group of about a dozen children from Ukraine, now refugees in Italy, to take the stage with him. “These guys had to leave and they came to a strange country. This is one of the fruits of the war. “Let us not forget them and let us not forget the Ukrainian people,” he said. Francis also strongly criticized the failures of international organizations to end the war in Ukraine. “After World War II, an attempt was made to lay the foundations of a new era of peace. But, unfortunately, the old story of rivalry between the great powers continued. “And in the current war in Ukraine, we are witnessing the incompetence of international organizations.” Background: While the pope has not yet visited Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, he told reporters on April 2 that a trip “is on the table”. Francis’s remarks to his general audience on Wednesday echoed previous demonstrations in support of Ukrainian refugees and calls for an end to the war. On March 19, Francis visited 19 children of Ukrainian refugees at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome, Italy. They are receiving treatment for oncological and neurological diseases, among others, as well as for serious injuries from explosions, said then Vatican Press Director Matteo Bruni. “Enough. Stop. Let the guns be silent. Negotiate seriously for peace,” Francis said in a weekly speech to Angelos in late March. “War can not be inevitable. We can not get used to war,” he added.
