War in Ukraine: Pope deplores ‘lack of courageous ways of peace’ in Europe

At the start of a five-day visit to Lisbon to mark World Youth Day (WYD), Pope Francis called on Europe to “build bridges” for peace in Ukraine. He lamented the “lack of bold peaceful ways” in Europe to end the war unleashed by Russia, reminding the Old Continent of its role as “bridge builder”.

“Looking with love at Europe and its characteristic spirit of dialogue, one could ask it: where are you sailing if you do not offer peace routes, creative ways to end the war in Ukraine (…)? – said the 86-year-old dad during his first speech to the authorities and the diplomatic corps in the cultural center of Belém. An Argentine Jesuit who has consistently called for weapons to be silenced in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

“european dream”

In a city where “the milestones of the march of the European Community” are engraved, referring to the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, François recalled “the European dream of multilateralism, broader than the Western context” to “capture the slightest signals of relaxation and read between the most twisted lines.”

True to the key themes of his pontificate, which began in 2013, the pope has also spoken out against disasters he sees as weakening the West, such as immigration policies, the population crisis, euthanasia or the arms trade. “Where are you sailing, Europe and the West, with the rejection of the elderly, walls with barbed wire, tragedies at sea and empty cradles? Where do you go if, in the face of life’s pain, you offer hasty and misguided means such as easy access to death, an easy solution that seems sweet but is actually more bitter than the waters of the sea? he claimed.

A few minutes earlier, Pope Francis had spoken to Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative and devout Catholic. “And I think of so many sophisticated euthanasia laws,” he added, when Portugal passed a law in May regulating “medical care,” thus joining the handful of European countries that have legalized euthanasia or assisted suicide, with the Benelux or neighboring countries. . Spain.

juvenile delinquency

Sensitive to the issue of ecology, François has also turned to the issue of global warming, while the planet has just experienced the hottest July ever measured. “The oceans are overheated, and from their depths the ugliness with which we have polluted the common home rises to the surface. We are turning these huge reserves of life into plastic dumps,” he complained.

At the end of the day, the Pope will travel to the Jeronimos Monastery, a famous 16th century building on the banks of the Tagus, to meet with the country’s clergy. The fourth pope to visit Portugal, where he had already been in 2017, Francis could take the opportunity to raise the sensitive issue of child crime in the church, six months after the shocking report of the independent expert commission was published. Since 1950, at least 4,815 minors have been victims of religious sexual abuse, according to a survey commissioned by Portuguese bishops.

Less than two months before the opening of a worldwide gathering in Rome meant to reflect on the future of the Church, the event also serves as a barometer for young Catholics’ stance on accepting LGBT+, priestly marriages. or a woman’s place. So many subjects on which Francis gradually outlined reforms over the 10 years of the pontificate.