Pope Francis appeared to criticise Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine earlier, saying a “potentate” – a ruler – was stirring up conflict for nationalist interests.
Speaking in Malta, the Pope said: “Once again, some potentate, sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, is provoking and fomenting conflicts, while ordinary people sense the need to build a future that will either be shared or not be at all.”
Asked earlier by a reporter on the papal plane about a possible trip to Kyiv, the Pope said a visit to Ukraine’s capital was “on the table”.
