Putin’s meeting with the Pope

Putin’s meeting with the Pope

By E. Stanley Ukeni

Although some of us expected instant breakthrough from the meeting between Pope Francis and President Vladimir Putin, but we do understand that miracles sometimes take a while in coming. This does not mean that progress is not being made in the peace effort. We must not lose hope just because peace seems, once again, delayed.

Expectedly, very little of the details from the discussion that took place during the private audience of the Russian President Vladimir Putin with the Holy Father have been made public. This is not at all uncommon for the Vatican which is well known for high discretion in matters of both individual absolution of sin and in managing its diplomatic affairs.

However, we can all be sure that the two world leaders must have had a serious and candid dialogue on a host of global issues—chief among them being the conflict in Ukraine, during their meeting at the Vatican. After all, this is probably the first substantive high level bilateral engagement between the Holy See and Russian leader since the citizens of the territory of Crimea voted, in a hastily arranged referendum, to secede from Ukraine.

Following the close door meeting, we have merely been privileged to Pope Francis’ appeal for a sincere effort at bringing lasting peace to the war weary people of Ukraine, during his private engagement with the Russian President.

The Vatican spokesman, the Reverend Federico Lombardi, said during a press briefing after the meeting between the two world leaders, that the pontiff emphasized the need for everyone in the position to bring about an end the bloodshed in Ukraine, “to commit oneself in a sincere and great effort to bring” a lasting, and a just, peace to the people of Ukraine—through constructive dialogue between the warring factions, and the full implementation of the Minsk accords by the contending sides in the civil conflict.

Rev. Lombardi also said that the Holy Father urged all sides in the conflict to grant unfettered access for humanitarian aid to reach the besieged citizens of the war ravaged regions of eastern Ukraine. This statement was probably aimed at address one of Kremlin’s key concerns that the government in Kiev was not rendering humanitarian assistance to the civilian populations of eastern Ukraine.

While the Pope has expressed dismay at the continuing loss of lives and property in Ukraine, the Holy Father has not publicly blamed Russia for stoking the conflict as seemed to have been urged by the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth Hackett, on Wednesday, June 10^th, 2015. The Holy Father has probably chosen to remaining mute, at this time, on the issue of who is fueling the resumption of hostilities, but instead has opted to quietly Shepard all side towards peace.

We all join in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in seeking an end to the conflict in the eastern part of the country. People of Ukraine, you are not alone in this time of challenge and difficulty, the world is with you. The world has not forgotten you…the world will never forget you. We share your pain, and we are strengthened by your courage to endure the difficulties. And we applaud your unyielding courage to endure the harsh conditions that you’ve been subjected to these past couple of years. You are all heroes. I dare say that you should stay strong in your faith that better days are ahead…help is on the way. We love you all—our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.  

Authored by E. Stanley Ukeni, © 2015. All Rights Reserved.