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Ukraine, a video of Leone XIV appears before the papacy: “It is a Russian imperialist invasion”

Ukraine, a video of Leone XIV appears before the papacy: “It is a Russian imperialist invasion”

Pope Leo XIV’s 2022 Condemnation of Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Resurfaces Amid International Peace Calls

Might 11, 2025 — A 2022 video interview that includes then-Bishop Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has resurfaced, wherein he explicitly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “a real invasion, imperialist in nature, the place Russia seeks to overcome territory for causes of energy.” The remarks, made to Peruvian outlet Semanario Expresión earlier than his papal election on Might 8, 2025, align together with his latest requires peace in Ukraine and Gaza, delivered throughout his first Sunday blessing, and resonate with world pleas for de-escalation, akin to German Overseas Minister Johann Wadephul’s stance on Gaza and the Indian Navy’s position in Operation Sindoor. The video, extensively shared on X, marks a stark distinction to Pope Francis’s extra impartial tone, providing hope to Ukrainians whereas stirring geopolitical ripples, together with Putin’s cautious outreach to the brand new pontiff.

The Resurfaced 2022 Video

Content material and Context

Within the April 2022 interview with Semanario Expresión, carried out in Chiclayo, Peru, the place Prevost served as bishop, he addressed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched on February 24, 2022. Talking as “Monsignor” Prevost, he described the warfare as “a really major problem that impacts the complete world” and a “true imperialist invasion” pushed by Russia’s need for “energy” and Ukraine’s “strategic location, in addition to the nice worth that Ukraine holds for Russia in cultural, historic, and industrial phrases.” He emphasised, “Crimes in opposition to humanity are being dedicated in Ukraine,” urging world leaders to acknowledge “the horrors of this warfare and the evil that Russia is finishing up.” The interviewer referenced Chiclayo’s 187th anniversary (April 15, 1835), putting the interview shortly earlier than that date.

The video, not too long ago posted on X by customers like @tchemia and @StratcomCentre, exhibits Prevost in bishop’s apparel, not papal vestments, talking in Spanish with a measured however agency tone. His condemnation contrasts sharply with Pope Francis’s method, which many Ukrainians criticized for framing Russians and Ukrainians as “brothers” and avoiding direct blame on Russia, as famous by Kyiv Put up and RBC-Ukraine.

Significance of the Remarks

Prevost’s 2022 statements, now amplified by his papacy, sign a possible shift in Vatican messaging. As Pope Leo XIV, elected after Pope Francis’s loss of life on April 21, 2025, he’s the primary American pontiff, bringing a perspective formed by many years in Peru and fluency in a number of languages (English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Latin, German). His specific labeling of Russia’s actions as “imperialist” and acknowledgment of warfare crimes, together with 12,600 civilian deaths per UN information, resonate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s reward for the Vatican’s “constant place” in opposition to Russian aggression.

X posts mirror sturdy sentiment: @AnatoliUkraine referred to as Leo XIV’s stance a “new voice of fact” becoming a member of the “ethical entrance in opposition to Russian aggression,” whereas @IneBackIversen hailed it as “refreshing” for rebuking leaders who ignore Russia’s actions. @SariArhoHavren famous his name for Western and International South leaders to face the reality, contrasting with these at Putin’s Crimson Sq. parade.

Connection to Pope Leo XIV’s Current Peace Advocacy

In his first Sunday blessing on Might 11, 2025, from St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV reiterated his dedication to peace, proclaiming, “By no means once more warfare!” and calling for a “simply and lasting peace” in Ukraine and a direct Gaza ceasefire with hostage releases and humanitarian support. He carried “the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian folks” in his coronary heart, denounced world conflicts as a “third world warfare in items,” and welcomed the India-Pakistan ceasefire, per AP Information. These remarks, delivered to 100,000 pilgrims, construct on his 2022 video by sustaining a agency stance in opposition to aggression whereas emphasizing diplomacy, aligning with Wadephul’s Gaza feedback and the Indian Navy’s restraint in Operation Sindoor.

International and Home Context

The resurfaced video intersects with broader narratives of belief, battle, and management:

  • India-Pakistan Tensions and Operation Sindoor: The Indian Navy’s fast Arabian Sea firings inside 96 hours of the Pahalgam assault, a part of Operation Sindoor, pressured Pakistan right into a defensive posture, mirroring Leo XIV’s name for de-escalation. Ceasefire violations, like these in Uri, echo the Ukraine warfare’s persistence, the place Russia’s 108-drone assault on Might 11 was met with Ukrainian defenses downing 60, per Ukraine’s Air Drive.
  • Gaza and Wadephul’s Diplomacy: Wadephul’s assertion that Gaza’s warfare requires a political resolution parallels Leo XIV’s 2022 and 2025 critiques of army overreach, whether or not Russian or Israeli, emphasizing diplomacy over pressure.
  • Trump’s Tariff Coverage: Howard Lutnick’s affirmation of a ten% U.S. tariff flooring, risking world commerce disruptions, contrasts with Leo XIV’s peace advocacy, which may stabilize markets by decreasing conflict-driven oil value spikes ($65.49/barrel). Walmart’s Q1 earnings, due Might 15, will check client resilience amid these pressures.
  • Juventus’s Tudor Belief: The “incomprehensible” belief in Juventus supervisor Igor Tudor displays the cautious hope in Leo XIV’s management, each navigating high-stakes roles with blended public religion.
  • Cultural Narratives: Tales like Emanuele De Maria’s Milan suicide, Jacqueline Ma’s sentencing, and movie star mothers like Kris Jenner spotlight belief and resilience, akin to Leo XIV’s ethical readability in supporting Ukraine in opposition to Russian aggression.

Important Perspective

The 2022 video’s authenticity is confirmed by credible sources like Kyiv Put up, RBC-Ukraine, and Euromaidan Press, with X posts amplifying its attain however requiring scrutiny for accuracy. @grok’s Might 11 submit, questioning a video attributing Ukraine remarks to Leo XIV post-election, probably refers to a distinct, unverified declare, underscoring the necessity for supply validation. Leo XIV’s shift from Francis’s neutrality—criticized for praising Russia’s imperial previous in 2023, sparking Ukrainian outrage—positions him as a “pope of hope” for Ukraine, per Father Ihor Yatsiv. Nonetheless, his American background and previous criticism of Trump insurance policies, famous by Laura Loomer on X, could complicate U.S.-Vatican relations, particularly as Trump pushes Ukraine-Russia talks. Putin’s congratulatory message to Leo XIV, expressing hope for “constructive dialogue,” suggests Moscow’s wariness of his stance, per Newsweek.

The video’s resurfacing may stress Russia, particularly as Putin proposes Istanbul talks on Might 15, met with Zelenskyy’s insistence on a Might 12 ceasefire, per RBC-Ukraine. But, Russia’s resistance to stress, as Dmitry Peskov informed CNN, and North Korea’s involvement, with Kim Jong Un calling it a “sacred mission,” complicate peace efforts.

Conclusion

The 2022 video of then-Bishop Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, condemning Russia’s Ukraine invasion as an “imperialist” act with “crimes in opposition to humanity” has reignited hope for a stronger Vatican stance, contrasting with Pope Francis’s neutrality. His Might 11, 2025, blessing reinforces this, aligning with Wadephul’s Gaza diplomacy and the Indian Navy’s measured retaliation in Operation Sindoor. As world conflicts—from Ukraine to South Asia—check belief “

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