Pope calls on Putin to stop "cyclone of violence and death" in Ukraine

Pope Francis urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday to stop the cycle of violence and death in Ukraine, strongly condemning the annexation of territories "contrary to international law".

Before praying in Saint Peter's Square, the Pope addressed "the President of the Russian Federation, asking him to stop, out of love for his people as well, this cycle of violence and death."

This is the first time that the Pope has called the Russian president directly in a speech since the conflict began on February 24.

The Pope also spoke for the first time about the annexation of Ukrainian lands by Moscow, where he denounced "new measures that violate the principles of international law."

"I deeply regret the dangerous situation that has arisen in recent days (...) as it increases the risks of nuclear escalation, to the point of raising fears of catastrophic consequences that cannot be controlled at the global level," the pope said.

The Pope also issued a "confident appeal also to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to be open to serious peace proposals."

"It is sad that the world learns about Ukrainian geography through names such as Bucha, Erbin, Mariupol, Izyum, Zaporizhia and other regions that have become places of unspeakable suffering and fear," he said.

"After seven months of combat operations, let us use all diplomatic means, even those we may not have used yet, to put an end to this horrific tragedy," he added.

War itself is a mistake and a horror!”

"What about the fact that humanity finds itself once again before the atomic threat?" the Pope said.

This is illogical.”

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