Pope calls for peace at religious conference

Pope Francis asked a group of religious leaders at Mass on Wednesday in Kazakhstan how many deaths it would take for Ukraine to be at peace. Francis is in the country for a global interfaith conference. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill had originally said he would join the conference but backed out last month. Francis said no religion should be used to justify a war.

Why did the Russian Patriarch back out? Kirill did not give a specific reason for his absence but has said the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a “metaphysical” battle with the West. He has blessed soldiers going to war and implied Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Francis has denounced the war but not disparaged Kirill or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Dig deeper: Read Lynn Vincent’s report in WORLD magazine on the toll of the war in Ukraine.