Ukraine debate: Archbishop defends Pope
politics
The chairman of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, Salzburg’s Archbishop Franz Lackner, defends statements by Pope Francis. He criticized that the Russian attack on Ukraine “may have been provoked in a way”.
One would also have to look at the history of such conflicts, said Archbishop Lackner of Salzburg in an interview with the APA after the summer general meeting of the bishops’ conference in Mariazell. Austria’s bishops once again called for solidarity with Ukraine.
Lackner: “Where was there unwise behavior?”
Pope Francis had described the Russian troops as brutal, cruel and savage, while praising the Ukrainians for their fight for survival. However, he also warned that the situation is not black and white and that the attack was “perhaps provoked in a way”. Lackner shows understanding for this. One would have to ask oneself – also in future conflicts: “Where was there unwise behavior?”
Lackner former UN soldier
The Salzburg head shepherd himself can look back on expected experiences. At a young age – before studying theology – he was stationed as a UN soldier with the peacekeeping mission of the Austrian Armed Forces on the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria.
The bishops harshly criticized the war
In a joint statement published on Wednesday, the Austrian bishops also condemned the “senseless” and “insane” war: “The most fundamental human rights to life and dignity are being violated and there is still no foreseeable end to these atrocities.” Only help and solidarity with Ukraine could be the answer. This also includes the willingness “to consciously accept disadvantages here with us,” says the statement.
Lackner visits aid projects in Ukraine
The cooperation between the churches and religions in Ukraine also gives hope, write the bishops. As a conscious sign of solidarity, Lackner will visit churches and some aid projects in Ukraine from July 10th to 13th.
Specifically, the archbishop will take part in the synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church together with the Graz diocesan bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl, which this time will take place in Przemysl (Poland) due to the war. Meetings with representatives of politics and church are planned in Lviv (Lemberg).