Pope Francis makes unprecedented visit to Russian embassy to oppose Ukraine invasion

Pope Francis left the Vatican to visit the Russian Embassy in Rome on Friday to express his concern about the invasion of Ukraine in person.

Usually popes receive distinguished guests, like ambassadors and heads of state, in the Vatican. Francis leaving the walled city for the visit was a sign of his anger over Moscow's military action, and his willingness to make a personal appeal for its end, according to the Associated Press.

Vatican officials said such a hands-on papal gesture has no recent precedent. Traditionally, the Vatican foreign minister would have to summon the Russian Ambassador.

“The Holy See press office confirms that the pope went to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See on Via della Conciliazione, clearly to express his concern about the war. He was there for just over a half-hour,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told AP.

Bruni added that the Pope made the journey to and from the embassy in a small white car.

Francis has previously called a possible war in Ukraine “madness” and pushed for a dialogue to head off escalation toward such.

“Let us continue to beg the God of peace so that the tensions and threats of war can be overcome through a serious dialogue and that the Normandy Format talks can contribute to this aim,” the Pope said to a general audience in Rome, referring to negotiations between the Kremlin and the West. 

The Catholic spiritual leader previously avoided criticizing Russia directly, most likely because he was trying to build stronger ties with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Pope Francis has set next Wednesday as a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Ukraine.