Pope pays tribute to Ukrainian soldier who was killed in war with Russia

This is reported by Reuters.

Thus, Pope Francis expressed regret over the deaths of seven humanitarian workers of World Central Kitchen as a result of an Israeli air strike.

"I express deep regret for the volunteers killed while they were engaged in distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza. I pray for them and their families," Francis said.

He reiterated his call for an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all Israeli hostages, full access to humanitarian aid and warned against any "irresponsible" regional expansion of the conflict.

During his speech, Francis also picked up a copy of the New Testament and a set of rosaries and said that they belonged to a slain 23-year-old Ukrainian soldier.

"I would like us all, in this moment, to have a bit of silence, thinking about this young man and many others like him who have died in this folly of war. War always destroys, let's think about them and pray," the Pope said and specified that a Ukrainian soldier named Oleksandr was killed in Avdiivka.

The Pope and the 'white flag': what is known

Earlier, the Pope gave an interview in which he said that Ukraine should have the courage to raise the white flag and start negotiations with Russia. The Vatican tried to justify Pope Francis.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said that "raising the white flag" as a sign of surrender is evil and that it must first be defeated, while Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski asked the Pope to encourage Putin to withdraw his army from Ukraine.

In addition, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to Francis' statement. "When the Russian evil started this war on February 24, all Ukrainians stood up to defend themselves. Christians, Muslims, Jews - everyone. And I thank every Ukrainian chaplain who is with the army, in the Defense Forces. They are on the front line. They protect life and humanity. They support us with prayer, conversation and deeds," he said.

Read also The Pope’s white flag: Everything we need to know

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, commenting on the Pope's statement, said that "surrender is not peace."

On March 11, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine Visvaldas Kulbokas was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because of Pope Francis' statement that "Ukraine should raise a white flag and start negotiations with Russia".