In a recent statement regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, invoked anger when he suggested that the Ukrainians should have the “courage of the white flag” to come to the table and negotiate. That statement has been met with staunch rebuttal from the Ukrainians, with Zelensky countering that the role of religious figures is not to attempt to facilitate mediation while residing far away from the conflict.
The pope has also been issuing statements regarding other ongoing conflicts, such as the conflict in Gaza. In his recent Easter address, the pope called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as he has been doing for months, as well as the transfer of humanitarian aid and the release of hostages. In light of the pope’s recent comments on both of these salient conflicts, despite his insistence that the papacy is not a political organization, the question must be raised–what is the role of the pope in international conflict?
A History of Involvement
As the leader of the largest denomination of Christianity, the most followed religion in the world, the papacy wields a certain amount of influence around the world. For many centuries, the pope and the Catholic Church were incredibly powerful institutions with the ability to influence politics and policy alongside religion.
In more recent years, the office of the pope has become increasingly more concerned with human rights as well as economic, social, and personal freedoms. John Paul II was the first modern pope to be seen as intentionally influential in the political sphere. He went beyond frequent human rights issues and positioned himself as an advocate for the fall of communism, both in his home country of Poland and elsewhere. The former pope was steadfastly committed to the idea of “imago dei,” or the religious belief that God creates each person on Earth in his image and therefore, everyone is entitled to the same freedoms and respect. This, as well as his experiences living under Nazi and then Communist rule, fueled his commitment to advocating for human rights and freedom from repression.
John Paul II became an unlikely, but uniquely important, figure in the Solidarity movement in his home state of Poland. During his first pilgrimage home after becoming pope, John Paul II gave a speech in which he subverted communist rule in Poland and encouraged his listeners to not be afraid. His speech ignited a desire for religion, national pride, and freedom. When solidarity started the next year, pictures of the pope were hung on the gates of the shipyard where the movement began. Over the next few years, John Paul II supported the movement through religious and financial support, and spoke out about continuing injustices like the implementation of martial law in 1981.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis has been seen by many as a sort of radical figure in the world of the Catholic Church, considering his more progressive stances on issues like homosexuality and the LGBTQ+ community, climate change, and marriage. Even his chosen name, Francis, carries a progressive weight with it. He picked the name Francis because of Saint Francis de Assisi, who chose a life of poverty and spent his time and energy preaching. Pope Francis called him the “the man of poverty, the man of peace” when asked why he picked the name.
Francis’s recent statements are not unfounded or even particularly unique–he has long been inserting the papacy into global discourse and even getting on the phone with important politicians from around the world. The pope has made a variety of de-facto political statements ranging from the recognition of the Armenian genocide to telling the West to stop meddling in Africa. His comments on the war in Ukraine hardly represent the first time that the pope has voiced his support for Russia. In the fall of 2023, Pope Francis urged young Russian Catholics to “[not] forget their heritage” as the “descendants of great Russia”.
Though many respect the pope’s more progressive stances, there are many, mainly more conservative Catholics, that are dissatisfied with where the papacy is going. The trends of his popularity are not surprising, as many of the issues he has been outspoken generally enjoy more support from those that lean left such as LGBTQ+ issues and climate change. However, the pope’s recent comments and position on the War in Ukraine has shifted some opinions.
Despite some statements of anguish for the suffering of the Ukrainian people, Pope Francis has gone beyond simply signaling neutrality in the context of this conflict. The pope has criticized Western defense spending in support of Ukraine, cited NATO aggression as a trigger for the conflict, and has urged Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, something that Zelensky and other leaders have said they would never consider.
Naturally, Francis’s comments have sparked outrage and backlash within Ukraine. Multiple Ukrainian leaders have condemned the comments made by Francis, making statements that reaffirm their commitment to fighting Russian aggression. The backlash against the papal office has extended beyond the borders of Ukraine and stretched across the continent, with additional condemnations coming from countries like Poland and Latvia.
While it is unlikely that the Pope’s comments and efforts to talk to political leaders leads to any concrete effects, it is still interesting how the papal office has worked its way back into the political scene. Not only does the papal office wield a great deal of influence around the world, it also serves as the ultimate moral authority for many of the Catholic faith. Being against war and conflict is a sort of expected value of someone like Pope Francis but the insistence that he is apolitical can veer towards danger. His stances on the Russia-Ukraine war, a conflict that is quite widely perceived as a war of blind aggression on the part of Russia, not only takes a partisan position on the issue, but it may urge others to follow his lead. In a conflict where the spirit and determination of the people is so important, the pro-Russia sentiment of arguably the most influential political leader in the world may do more damage than some would think.
Featured Image Source: L’Osservatore Romano via The Denver Post
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