The situation in Ukraine is very “worrisome” and could spiral out of control, said Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Source: Catholic Review.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened that the conflict could spread after Ukraine fired US-supplied longer-range missiles on November 19 and UK-supplied cruise missiles on November 20 into Russian territory.
“These developments are very, very worrisome, because we don’t know where they could lead,” the cardinal told reporters in Rome on Friday about the latest developments, adding that his words also reflected the Pope’s concern and position. Vatican News published his comments the same day.
When asked about the International Criminal Court at The Hague issuing arrest warrants against three leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the cardinal said the Holy See has “taken note of what has happened” and underlined that what “concerns and interests us is that the war be ended soon”.
Judges at the court issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Mr Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defence minister, and Mohammed Deif, military commander of Hamas, saying there were “reasonable grounds” the men were criminally responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking about the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the cardinal said, “Let’s stop now while there is time, because there is no way to know where this escalation will lead!
“At some point we will no longer know how to control any possible developments” in this conflict, he said, appealing to those in position of authority “to stop before it becomes irreparable.”
The cardinal said the Vatican is continuing its efforts on prisoner exchanges and returning children to Ukraine who had been kidnapped and taken to Russia.
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Cardinal warns war in Ukraine could spiral out of control (By Carol Glatz, CNS via Catholic Review)
