Pope calls for 'serious international dialogue' to defuse Ukraine tensions

Pope Francis, in his first comments on the tensions between the West and Russia over Ukraine, called on Sunday (December 12) for serious international dialogue to resolve tensions and urged both sides to avoid an armed conflict.

"I would like to assure my prayer for dear Ukraine, for all its churches and religious communities and for all of its people, so that tensions there are resolved through a serious international dialogue and not with weapons," he told thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his noon blessing and address.

"Weapons are not the path to take. May this Christmas bring peace to Ukraine," he said.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday (December 11) said he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia would pay "a terrible price" and face devastating economic consequences if it invaded Ukraine.

Francis, who has often called for disarmament and a ban on nuclear weapons, said he was "very pained" by a recent statistic he read, which said more weapons were manufactured in 2021 compared to last year.

Ukraine is predominately Orthodox Christian, with Catholics of either the Latin Rite or Byzantine rite making up about 10 percent of the population in the former Soviet republic.

Ukraine has accused Russia of massing tens of thousands of troops in preparation for a possible large-scale military offensive.

Russia denies planning any attack and accuses Ukraine and the United States of destabilizing behavior, and has said it needs security guarantees for its own protection.

The pontiff also prayed for victims of a string of powerful tornadoes that US officials fear killed at least 100 people while obliterating buildings, homes, and anything else in their way in Kentucky.

The tornadoes tore a 200-mile (320-km) path through the U.S. Midwest and South on Friday night (December 10).