The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) has joined supporters of Ukraine around the world to voice its profound disappointment at comments from Pope Francis that Ukraine should have ‘the courage of the white flag’ and begin negotiations to end the war Russia has been waging against Ukraine.
AFUO Co-chair Stefan Romaniw OAM said today “We are deeply distressed and offended by the Pope’s words that Ukraine should see that it is ‘defeated’ and show the ‘courage of the white flag’.
“Ukraine is standing united in defending itself against Russian aggression and remains capable of defeating Moscow’s terrorism, death and destruction.
“Yet the Pope’s words appear to justify Russia’s brutal invasion, reward the aggressor, and show a profound misunderstanding about Moscow’s role in driving the war against Ukraine.
“Of course, Ukrainians want a long-lasting and just peace. They have suffered inordinately at the hands of Russian forces – over 125,000 war crimes have been committed, 20,000 children have been abducted, countless homes, neighbourhoods and cities have been destroyed and parts of Ukraine have been occupied since 2014.
“But true peace will only come to Ukraine when Moscow stops its war of aggression, withdraws its troops from Ukrainian territory and enters into meaningful negotiations. Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan provides the roadmap – but Moscow has rejected this proposal,” he said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has articulated Ukraine’s position “Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags.”
“We join the calls of the Ukrainian World Congress, the global voice of the 20 million strong Ukrainian diaspora, for the Pope to withdraw his words and recognise the courage of the Ukrainian people, and their rightness in seeking a just outcome which does not entail surrender,” added Romaniw.
The Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, the Most Reverend Bishop Mykola Bychok, in his correspondence to the AFUO has stated “I wish to express my solidarity with the Ukrainian people and our faithful in Australia. The words of Pope Francis are painful and unacceptable to us.”
The AFUO has written to the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, asking for the Ukrainian-Australian community’s reaction to be delivered to the Pope, and to seek an urgent meeting with the Archbishop.
