The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, announced his readiness to meet with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia to discuss the war. Reported by Corriere della Sera.

This was the response of the pontiff to the question of journalists about whether he was ready to kneel before Putin, calling him to peace, similar to how he knelt before the leaders of South Sudan in 2019. Francis stressed that he was equally ready to meet with the heads of both warring states.

Commenting on the war, the Pope said that he considered a trip to Ukraine, but it ultimately did not take place due to lack of opportunity. He was also going to come to Moscow and there was a preliminary agreement on this.

" It is impossible to explain, it was an internal impulse, it was not planned,” said the head of the church.

During his communication with journalists, the Pope added that military conflicts are currently taking place not only on the territory of Ukraine, and that each of them represents self-destruction.

[see_also ids\u003d" In September 2022, he stated that doctors forbade him to take such a trip because of a sore knee.. However, he noted that he constantly keeps in touch with both Zelensky and Putin..

Prior to this, the pontiff did not rule out his visit to Ukraine and the Russian Federation after a trip to Canada at the end of July, but he also did not take place..