'Shameful capitulation' Pope Francis slams Ukraine invasion after visit to Russian embassy

Pope Francis has strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling war a “shameful capitulation” and a “stinging defeat before the forces of evil.” He shared this message in both English and Russian on Twitter, highlighting his deep concern about the humanitarian toll of the conflict.

In a highly unusual diplomatic move, the Pope visited the Russian Embassy to the Holy See in Rome—marking a rare departure from protocol where ambassadors are typically summoned to the Vatican. The visit, which lasted over 30 minutes, was meant to express the Pope’s “great concern” over the invasion and its impact on civilians, particularly the sick, children, and the vulnerable.

Ambassador Aleksandr Avdeyev confirmed that Pope Francis urged protection for the suffering and emphasized the need for peace. The Vatican did not disclose details of the conversation, but the gesture itself was significant. It is believed to be the first time in living memory that a pope has personally visited an embassy to speak on an unfolding international crisis.

In his Twitter statement, Pope Francis wrote:

“Every war leaves our world worse than it was before.

War is a failure of politics and of humanity,

a shameful capitulation,

a stinging defeat before the forces of evil.”

While Pope Francis has not explicitly condemned Russia by name—possibly to preserve dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church—his actions and words reflect a clear moral stance. He has declared Ash Wednesday, March 2, as a global day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, also urged restraint and diplomacy, saying:

“There is still time for goodwill… room for the exercise of wisdom that prevents the madness and horror of war.”

Pope Francis, who is 85 and dealing with ongoing sciatic nerve pain, has continued to prioritize peace advocacy despite recent health challenges.

Meanwhile, the invasion of Ukraine—launched after President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation”—has escalated quickly. Russian forces have attacked by land, sea, and air, including early morning airstrikes on Kyiv. International observers fear that Moscow intends to seize full control of the capital.