Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reproaches Vatican for trying to equate aggressor and victim

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that this year's march in Rome on Good Friday was once again overshadowed by an attempt to equate the victim and the aggressor. Source: Oleh Nikolenko, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Facebook Quote: "Yesterday, on Good Friday, a big religious event was held in Rome - a religious procession.

It symbolises the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, faith over despondency. We are deeply grateful to Pope Francis for his concern for Ukraine and Ukrainians. Unfortunately, we have to state that the current march was again overshadowed by an attempt to equate the victim and the aggressor."

Details: Texts were read out during the 10th Station of the procession: on behalf of a Ukrainian teenager who found shelter in Italy after the seizure of Mariupol by Russian troops, and a Russian man whose brother-in-arms lost his life, and his father and grandfather went missing as participants in the Russian war of conquest against Ukraine.

The foreign ministry is disappointed that the Holy See did not take into account the arguments of the Ukrainian side about the offensive nature of such a gesture. Quote: "The joint participation of a Ukrainian and a Russian distorts the reality Russia has plunged Ukrainians into, carrying out a genocide against them. Moreover, such a step undermines the principles of justice and universal morality, discredits the concept of peace and brotherhood.

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Attempts to put an equal sign between Ukraine, which is suffering, and Russia, which causes the suffering, do not contribute to reconciliation. Reconciliation can come only after the Ukrainian victory, the punishment of all Russian criminals, repentance for the suffering caused and asking for forgiveness of Ukrainians." More details: The foreign ministry hopes that the Holy See will continue to adhere to an approach based on a deep understanding of justice and responsibility for restoring peace in Ukraine and establishing justice.

Background: The Vatican decided to combine the testimonies of Ukrainian and Russian teenagers during the procession in the Colosseum on 7 April, although last year a similar initiative with women caused outrage in Ukraine.

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