The very strong words about responsibility for the war in Ukraine and the “humanitarian tragedy” of the martyred nation were indicated as Pope Francis’ most important statements during his two-day visit to Malta. In the evening the Pope will return to Rome.

The war in Ukraine is present in almost all of the pope’s speeches.

Already on the plane en route to Malta, Francis told reporters on Saturday that his trip to Ukraine, where he had previously been invited, was being considered. When asked by a press representative if he would accept the invitation, he replied that “this proposal is on the table”.

The strongest words regarding the responsibility of war were delivered in Francis’ first address to the representatives of the highest authority of Malta in Valletta. “We think invasions of other countries, brutal street fighting, and nuclear threats are dark memories from the distant past. But the winds of war, which only bring death, destruction, and hatred, have dealt a brutal blow to the lives of many people and nations. all day,” he said.

“And while again the mighty few, sadly embedded in the anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, provoke and inflame conflict, ordinary people feel the need to build a future that will be the same or not,” the Pope added. There is agreement among commentators that with these words, Francis, who has not named the attacker since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is closest to identifying Russian President Vladimir Putin as the person responsible.

The Pope also assessed that the world faces the risk of a “prolonged Cold War”. This is a new term used by the Pope who has repeatedly spoken of a “Third World War in pieces”.

On Sunday, at the end of a mass in the city of Floriana, Franciszek said: “We pray for peace, thinking about the tragedy of the martyrdom of the Ukrainian humanity, which is still being bombarded during this immoral war.”

“Let us continue to pray and help those who are suffering,” he added.

Also during a meeting with migrants at the charity center, the Pope emphasized: “Your story recalls the story of the thousands who were forced to leave Ukraine in recent days because of the war.”

From Valletta, Sylvia Wysocka