Pope criticizes Ukraine's church decision: 'Churches must not be touched'
Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Catholics, criticized Ukraine's decision to ban the activities of churches affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate, stating, "One does not commit evil by praying. Churches must not be touched."
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Head of the Vatican State and spiritual leader of Catholics Pope Francis criticized the Ukrainian administration's decision to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate.
According to AA, Pope Francis delivered important messages regarding the mpox outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine War during his speech while performing the traditional Sunday prayer from the window of his office overlooking St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
Sending a message of solidarity to the thousands of people affected by the mpox disease, which has become a global health emergency, the Pope also touched upon Ukraine's ban on church activities.
Pope Francis stated that he follows the conflicts in Ukraine and the Russian Federation with pain, saying, "Thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine, I am concerned about the freedom of those who pray. Anyone who truly prays, always prays for everyone. One does not commit evil by praying. Let those who wish to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their own churches. Please, let no Christian church be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches must not be touched."
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Ukrainian Parliament passed a bill on August 20 to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the country. The bill, "on the prohibition of the activities of religious organizations on the territory of Ukraine, including those affiliated with the Russian Federation," was accepted in the general assembly of the parliament with 265 votes out of 322 deputies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed and approved the law yesterday.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova reacted to the Ukrainian Parliament's decision, stating, "The goal here is to completely destroy true Orthodoxy and replace it with a fake Orthodox church. This is the destruction of Orthodoxy in Ukraine."