Pope Leo XIV Clearly Labels Russia Aggressor, Ukraine Victim, Says Chalenko

Pope Leo XIV clearly sees the nature of Russia's aggression against Ukraine: this will be a serious blow to Russian propaganda, which is trying to ‘wash away’ this issue, says political scientist, head of the Centre for Analysis and Strategies Ihor Chalenko.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to the broadcast of the FREEDOM TV channel.

Chalenko noted that, first of all, Ukraine would like to see a more active role of the Holy See in the humanitarian aspect - in the issue of the release of Ukrainian children, prisoners of war who are now in the Russian Federation, as well as in the occupied Ukrainian territories.

"Another point is positioning. After all, the Pope is a spiritual guide for 1.3 billion Catholics around the world. And we are talking not only about the Western countries, but first of all about the countries of the global South. And believers, Catholics, are still guided, in particular in certain political aspects, by the Pope's position," the political scientist explained.

According to Chalenko, the Pope has repeatedly shown a clear signal about who is really evil and aggressor.

"Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly shown a clear division between who is the aggressor - the Russian Federation itself, and who is the victim state. This will be a serious blow directly to Russian propaganda, which is trying to ‘blur’ this issue, to show, in particular, to the states of the global South, that peace is supposedly necessary under all conditions, and perhaps even that Russia is right somewhere. And the position of Leo XIV, voiced during a sermon in the Vatican in his status as pope-elect, and earlier, in 2022, is clearly formed. We can recall an interview with the Peruvian media, where Prevost clearly outlined who is really evil in this situation and what needs to be fought," Chalenko said.

It is a very positive signal that the Pope is not trying to blur the cognitive aspect of the situation, in terms of perception, the political scientist believes.

"It's like a doctor making a correct diagnosis. But when the diagnosis is correct, it is a good way to treat the disease. This does not mean, of course, that the Holy See will somehow act against the Russian Orthodox Church, for example. In the religious aspect, of course, they will have a connection, but in terms of politics, the church, at least the Catholic Church, clearly shows what evil is, who is evil, and what needs to be done to overcome this evil," the guest summed up.

As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his first-ever conversation with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, describing it as ‘very warm and truly substantive.’