Yelensky: The Pope "regrets" his words about Mother Russia
Viktor Yelensky. Photo: Ukrinform
The Head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics, Viktor Yelensky, stated to Radio Svoboda that, according to his information, the Pope "regrets" his words about the glorification of the Russian Empire.
"I also know that the Pope believed that Catherine and Peter (Russian tsars Catherine II and Peter I) were, in the context of Russian history stained with blood, truly Europeans who tried to bring Russia closer to Europe. And that's why he spoke about heritage. But there's no need to justify him by saying he didn't say what he actually said," Yelensky said.
He also recalled that the Pope has repeatedly expressed support for Ukraine but at the same time "attempted to equate the aggressor and the victim of aggression".
As earlier reported, Pope Francis called on Russians to be heirs of the great empire, the great Mother Russia.
Read also
Orthodox and Catholic bishops make joint visit to Mount Athos
The head of the Phanar blessed a joint pilgrimage to Mount Athos by Roman Catholic and Orthodox bishops.
UOC Kryvyi Rih Eparchy marks 30th anniversary
Metropolitan Yefrem led the anniversary Divine Liturgy in Kryvyi Rih.
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.