• Pope Francis says it is morally permissible for nations to supply weapons to Ukraine.
• He also urged Kyiv to be open to eventual dialogue, even if it may “smell” because the Ukrainian side would find it difficult.
• The pope sat through the news conference rather than standing for the second time on an international trip due to a lingering knee ailment.

Pope Francis said it was morally permissible for nations to supply weapons to Ukraine in order to help the country defend itself against Russian aggression.

Speaking to reporters aboard a plane returning from a three-day trip to Kazakhstan, Francis also urged Kyiv to be open to eventual dialogue, even if it may “smell” because the Ukrainian side would find it difficult.

The pope’s visit to Kazakhstan, where he attended a congress of religious leaders from around the world, took place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, which Russia invaded on February 24.

A reporter asked if it was morally right for countries to send weapons to Ukraine during a 45-minute airborne news conference.

“This is a political decision that can be moral, morally acceptable if done under moral conditions,” Francis said.

He elaborated on the “Just War” principles of the Roman Catholic Church, which allow for the proportional use of lethal weapons in self-defense against an aggressor nation.

“Self defense is not only licit but also an expression of love for the homeland. Someone who does not defend oneself, who does not defend something, does not love it. Those who defend (something) love it,” he said.

Francis explained the difference between when it is moral or immoral to supply weapons to another country:

“It can be immoral if the intention is to incite more war, or if the intention is to sell or dump arms that (a country) no longer requires. The motivation is what qualifies the morality of this action in large part “He stated.

The pope, who sat through the news conference rather than standing for the second time on an international trip due to a lingering knee ailment, was asked whether Ukraine should negotiate with the country that invaded it and if there was a “red line” Ukraine should draw depending on Russian activities after which it could refuse to negotiate.

“It is always difficult to understand dialogue with countries that have started a war … it is difficult but it should not be discarded,” he said.

“I would not exclude dialogue with any power that is at war, even if it is with the aggressor. … Sometimes you have to carry out dialogue like this. It smells but it must be done,” he said.

Also Read

Pope Francis calls Ukraine war “morally unjust” and “barbaric”

Pope Francis says Russia's war in Ukraine is "morally unjust, unacceptable, barbaric,...