Pope urges Ukraine to preserve religious freedoms amid conflict

Pope Francis said on Sunday that no Christian church in Ukraine should be "overthrown." During a meeting with the faithful in the Vatican, he referred to the decision by the authorities in Kyiv to ban the activities of religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Addressing the faithful gathered for the midday Angelus prayer, the Pope said: "I continue to follow with sorrow the fights in Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Thinking about the legal norms recently adopted in Ukraine, my concern for the freedom of those who pray increases because those who truly pray pray always for everyone."

"One does not commit evil by praying. If someone commits evil against their nation, they are guilty, but they could not have done evil because they were praying," said the Pope.

He added, "Therefore, let people pray in the church they consider their own. Please, no Christian church should be directly or indirectly overthrown. Churches should not be touched!" he assessed.

Francis made these remarks a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law banning the activities of religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church.

On Saturday, the law "On the Protection of Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activities of Religious Organizations" came into effect. The aim of this regulation is to ban the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and related religious organizations in Ukraine, and to combat the dissemination of the ideology of so-called "Russian peace" and - in particular - the use of religious organizations to promote the geopolitical concepts of the Kremlin.

Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the Pope also expressed solidarity with the thousands afflicted by monkeypox. He emphasized that this virus already constitutes a "global health crisis."

"I pray for all infected individuals, especially the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has already suffered so much. I express closeness with the local churches of the countries most affected by this disease and encourage governments and private industries to share technology and available treatments, so no one lacks appropriate medical assistance," said Francis.

He also addressed the people of Nicaragua, where persecutions of the Church have persisted for a long time.

"I encourage you to renew your hope in Jesus. Remember that the Holy Spirit always guides history towards more sublime plans," said the Pope and prayed for the protection of the Virgin Mary "in times of trial."