Pope Francis: Ukrainian flag condemns Butsa massacre

Pope Francis today condemned the "Bucha massacre" and raised a Ukrainian flag, which was sent to him from this Ukrainian city, where the bodies of people who had been shot at close range, a mass grave and other evidence of executions were found.

"Recent information from the war in Ukraine, instead of giving hope and relief, has brought new atrocities, such as the massacre of Boutsa," the pope said at the end of his weekly sermon.

"Barbarism, which is increasingly horrific, even against civilians, defenseless women and children. They are victims, whose innocent blood cries out to the heavens and begs: "Stop this war!", Said the pope.

"Yesterday, specifically from Boutsa, they brought me this flag," said the pope, unfolding it and holding it high so that the many thousands gathered could see it and burst into applause.

The flag looked dirty and blackened and something was written on it.

"He is from the war, especially from this martyrdom city, Butsa," the pope said before inviting a group of refugee children who had arrived from Ukraine yesterday, Tuesday, to visit him.

"These children had to leave their country to reach a safe place. This is the result of the war. "Let us not forget them and let us not forget the Ukrainian people", he concluded and then gave each of the children an Easter chocolate egg.

Russia says it is not targeting civilians in what it describes as a "special military operation" in Ukraine, which it says is aimed at demilitarizing and "de-Naziizing" its neighbor. Kyiv and the West reject the Kremlin's position, saying it is being used as a pretext for an unprovoked invasion.

Source: RES-EAP