The head of the Catholic Church noted that he spoke about the Russian Federation in a “cultural sense” and came to mind what he was taught at school.
Pope Francis, in his speech at the All-Russian Catholic youth meeting, especially commented on the words about “great Russia”. The Italian portal ANSA writes this on September 4.
Commenting on the repercussions surrounding his words, the pope told reporters he was referring to Russia “in a cultural sense, not in a geographical sense”.
“I thought of what I was taught in school: Peter I, Catherine II. Maybe this is not entirely true, historians say, but it was an addition that came to my mind,” said the Pope.
His message, according to the head of the Catholic Church, was to take responsibility for his legacy.
What the Pope Said
Recall that Pope Francis spoke at the All-Russian Catholic youth meeting on August 25, urging Russians not to forget Russia’s “great legacy”.
The Pope said, “You are the heirs of great Russia: great Russia of saints, rulers, great Russia of Peter I, Catherine II, that empire; great, enlightened, great culture and great humanity.”
The Pope also wished the Russians to be “craftsmen of the world” among “various manifestations of polarization”.
Soon after, the Pontifical Mission commented on the Pope’s statement, stating that Pope Francis was an opponent and critic of any form of imperialism or colonialism.
In addition, the Vatican released a statement regarding Francis’ speech; here the Pope wanted to encourage young people to preserve and develop all that is positive in the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Russian Federation and to encourage rather than glorify imperialism.
Source: Focus
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.