2024-08-25T19:20:00+03:00 Politics 2024-09-17T04:06:40+03:00

Ukrainian news

"Churches are not to be touched!" Pope reacts to ban on russian church in Ukraine

"Churches are not to be touched!" Pope reacts to ban on russian church in Ukraine

Pope Francis expressed concern over Ukraine's decision to ban the activities of the russian church.

Francis said this during a Sunday meeting with the faithful, Vatican News writes.

"And, thinking about the recently adopted law in Ukraine, I feel apprehensive about the freedom of those who pray, because the one who truly prays always prays for everyone.

No one does evil because of what he prays. If someone commits evil against his people, he will be guilty of it, but the fact that he prayed cannot be considered evil," the Pope said.

He added that those "who want to pray" should be allowed to pray in the church they consider their own.

"Please, let no Christian church be abolished directly or indirectly: churches are not to be touched," Francis said.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on August 20, the Verkhovna Rada banned the activities of the russian church in Ukraine. It is assumed that the activity of religious organizations affiliated with a foreign religious organization, the activity of which is prohibited in Ukraine, should be terminated.

UOC priests must withdraw from the synod and episcopate of the russian Orthodox Church in order to implement the new law.