Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned the use of mercenaries in the war launched by Vladimir Putin against Ukraine, saying that they cause “so much cruelty” on the Ukrainian population, reports lebensi.com.
Pope Francis PHOTO Archive
“I renew my call to prayer for martyred Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord for peace for these people who are so troubled and who suffer so much cruelty, so much cruelty from the mercenaries who fight in the war,” the sovereign pontiff said at the end of his general audience at the Vatican.
Wagner, a military company in Putin’s pay, has been accused by the European Union and the United States of organizing clandestine operations on behalf of the Kremlin in Ukraine.
When asked about mercenaries, Vladimir Putin always claimed that Wagner does not represent the Russian state. But, the Kremlin leader added, private military contractors have the right to operate anywhere in the world as long as they do not violate Russian law.
Europa
