The deaths in Bucha, outside Kyiv, have sparked a worldwide outcry and pledges of further sanctions against Moscow by the West. “The recent news of the war in Ukraine, instead of bringing relief and hope, has brought new atrocities, such as the massacre of Bucha,” Francis said at the end of his weekly audience at the Vatican amphitheater. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “Stop this war! Let the guns be silent! Stop sowing death and destruction,” he said, denouncing the brutality against civilians, defenseless women and children. The Kremlin says allegations that Russian forces committed war crimes by executing civilians, including Bucha, were a “monstrous falsification” aimed at discrediting the Russian military. Francis said the dark and stained flag, which had letters and symbols, was brought to him from Boucha on Tuesday. Pope Francis holds the Ukrainian flag sent to him from the city of Bucha, where bound corpses were shot at, a mass grave and other signs of execution were found during the weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. April 6, 2022. REUTERS / Remo Casilli read more “It comes from the war, from that very martyrdom city, Buha,” he said, kissing it and holding it high for the crowd of thousands, which erupted in applause. He then asked a group of children of war refugees who arrived from Ukraine on Tuesday to approach him. “These children had to leave to reach a safe country. This is the fruit of war. Let us not forget them and let us not forget the Ukrainian people,” he said, before giving each child a chocolate Easter egg as a gift. Speaking in the previous part of his audience about the period after the Second World War, Francis said: “In the war in Ukraine, we are witnessing the incompetence of the United Nations.” During a trip to Malta at the weekend, Francis said he had considered a trip to Kyiv and indirectly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine, saying a “strongman” was inciting a conflict over nationalist interests. read more Francis specifically referred to Russia only in prayer, such as during a special world peace event on March 25, but referred to Russia using terms such as invasion and aggression. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Philip Pullella. Edited by Hugh Lawson Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
