Pope Francis suggests Ukraine war was 'perhaps provoked in some way'

Pope Francis claimed "World War III has been declared" and suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine was "provoked," a transcript of a conversation he had last month revealed, the Daily Mail reported.

The leader of the Catholic Church denied being “pro-Putin” and said the Russian troops were brutal, cruel, and ferocious. He also praised the courage of Ukrainian soldiers who have been fighting to defend their country since the invasion began last February.

"The Russians thought it would all be over in a week. But they miscalculated. They encountered a brave people, a people who are struggling to survive and who have a history of struggle," says the transcript of the conversation, published by the Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica.

Francis added that the situation was “not black and white” and that the war was "perhaps in some way provoked" by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

He also said that the war in Ukraine, along with other conflicts around the world, means that "World War III has been declared." He expressed that the same "is being fought bit by bit."

According to the Supreme Pontiff, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is more newsworthy because "it is closer to us and it stings our sensibilities more."

"But there are other countries far away. Think of parts of Africa, northern Nigeria, and northern Congo, where war is ongoing and nobody cares. Think of Rwanda 25 years ago. Think of Myanmar and the Rohingya. The world is at war," he added.

The Pope announced that he plans to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at an interfaith event in Kazakhstan next September. The two were due to meet in Jerusalem in June, but that trip was cancelled due to the war.

Kirill is close to Putin and has given his full support to the war in Ukraine.