Vatican Clarifies Pope Francis’ Remarks on ”Great Russia”

Pope Francis’ recent comments praising the historical significance of Russia have stirred controversy, especially among the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

In a video address to Russian Catholic youths, the Pope celebrated the heritage of Russia, mentioning “the great Russia of Peter I, Catherine II… the enlightened Russian Empire.”

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church reacted with concern. “We hope the Holy Father spoke spontaneously… without supporting Russia’s imperialist ambitions,” Shevchuk remarked. He warned of the risk that the Pope’s words might be misinterpreted as backing “nationalism and imperialism,” particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Quick to clarify, the Vatican emphasized that Pope Francis had no intention of endorsing Russian imperialism. Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Bruni, stated, “the pope intended to encourage young people to promote Russia’s cultural and spiritual heritage, not to glorify imperialistic logic.”

While the Pope’s comments were not included in the official transcript, the Archdiocese of Moscow shared his remarks on their platform. They later expressed agreement with the Vatican’s clarification.

Meanwhile, the apostolic nunciature in Ukraine emphasized that the Pope is a consistent “opponent and critic of any form of imperialism or colonialism.” Bishop Vitalij Skomarovskyi of Ukraine commented on the Pope’s words, lamenting the perpetuation of the “myth of humanism” in a nation at war. However, he reminded Ukrainians of Pope Francis’s consistent support throughout the conflict.

Amid the confusion, Russian spokespersons applauded Pope Francis.

Maria Zakharova, speaking for the Russian Foreign Ministry, highlighted the Vatican’s “balanced approach” on the Ukraine conflict. She expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Holy See and Pope Francis in seeking peace. In a similar vein, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, commended the Pope’s knowledge of Russian history.

Pray for peace and dialogue!