Pope Leo XIV commented on Russia's war against Ukraine

The new pontiff Robert Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, has spoken publicly for the first time about Russia's war against Ukraine. In an interview with the Peruvian publication Semanario Expresión, he gave a harsh assessment of the Kremlin's actions, bluntly calling the conflict "a real invasion with imperial ambitions."

The Pope said Russia is waging a war of invasion driven by the pragmatics of power and the desire for territorial control. He said it is "an imperialist offensive where the main goal is to establish dominance."

He added that "even some politicians in our country do not want to recognise the horrors of this war and the evil that Russia is committing with all its actions there in Ukraine."

Such a statement is in stark contrast to the stance of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had adopted a more cautious rhetoric during the conflict. Francis was repeatedly criticised for his lack of a clear position and attempts to equalise the responsibility of the parties, calling Russians and Ukrainians "brothers".

Leo XIV, on the contrary, made it clear that the Vatican under him would not ignore the issue of responsibility and clearly identified the aggressor. Experts note that this may mark the beginning of a new stage in the Holy See's diplomatic policy regarding the war in Ukraine.

After the death of Pope Francis on 21 April at the age of 88, the conclave of cardinals on 8 May elected American Robert Francis Prevost as the new head of the Catholic Church. He took the papal name Leo XIV.