Vatican: Pope holding Ukrainian flag condemns ‘atrocities such as Bhutto massacre’

Pope Francis today condemned the “Bucha massacre” and raised a Ukrainian flag, which was sent to him from this Ukrainian city, where the bodies of people who had been shot at close range, a mass grave and other evidence of execution were found.

“Recent news from the war in Ukraine, instead of bringing hope and relief, has brought new atrocities, such as the Bhutto massacre,” the pope said at the end of his weekly sermon.

“Barbarism, which is becoming more and more horrible, even against civilians, defenseless women and children. They are victims, whose innocent blood cries out to the heavens and begs: ‘Stop this war!'” The pope said.

“Yesterday, specifically from Boutsa, they brought me this flag,” said the pope, unfolding it and holding it high so that the many thousands gathered could see it and burst into applause.

The flag looked dirty and blackened and something was written on it.

“He is from the war, especially from this martyr city, Butsa,” the pope said before inviting a group of refugee children who had arrived from Ukraine yesterday, Tuesday, to visit him.

“These children had to leave their country to reach a safe place. This is the result of the war. Let us not forget them and let us not forget the Ukrainian people,” he concluded, and then gave each of the children an Easter chocolate egg.

Russia says it is not targeting civilians in what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine that it says is aimed at demilitarizing and “de-Naziizing” its neighbor. Kyiv and the West reject the Kremlin’s position, saying it is being used as a pretext for an unprovoked invasion.