Author: Alik Gomelsky
August 30, 2023
The ‘word’ is not a bird, and the word has always been a weapon. And in the modern world, a very powerful weapon. Especially the word of a world-class spiritual leader. We are talking about the words from a virtual speech made by the Pope in front of the Catholic youth of Putin’s Russia.
“Don’t forget your heritage. You are the descendants of great Russia: the great saints of Russia, rulers, the great Russia – Peter I, Catherine II, that empire — educated, great culture and great humanity. Never give up on this heritage. You are descendants of the great Mother Russia, step forward with it. And thank you — thank you for your way of being, for your way of being Russian,” said the head of the worldwide Catholic Church.
From the historical, political and ethical points of view, his statement cannot go un-criticized. Why and who deceived the pontiff by giving him false information about the history of the Russian Empire? Or is it Pope Francis’ own knowledge?
The pathological sadist and pervert Peter I and Catherine II like him–the pillars and guarantors of the slavery of Russian citizens, who most severely suppressed any desire for freedom and independence in the Russian Empire – cannot be saints. It also makes sense to remind the Pope that serfdom (which is legalized slavery) was abolished in Russia only in the second half of the 19th century, 136 years after the death of Emperor Peter I and 65 years after the death of Empress Catherine II. What great humanity can we talk about when, by the order of “saint” Catherine II, the Pale of Settlement was introduced for the Jewish population of the empire? The presence of such a “law” is a clear example of racial segregation and humiliation of fellow citizens along national and religious lines in “great Mother Russia.” In addition, Catherine destroyed the Ukrainian Cossack freemen of the Zaporizhzhya Sich. And therefore, it is not surprising that the cults of tyrants and aggressors are so popular in modern day’s Russia — from Peter and Catherine to Stalin and Andropov.
The idea of a “great empire” for centuries forced Russia to wage aggressive wars, destroying both its own citizens and citizens of other countries while annihilating culture and religion.
It is very important to remember and remind the world that Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees, including those given by “great” Russia. In this case, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a direct violation of four commandments at once: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, and do not covet your neighbor’s house.
Against the backdrop of statements made by Putin and his henchmen on the restoration of the Russian Empire through missiles and drones that turn flourishing Ukrainian cities and villages into debris and ruins, the words of the head of the Catholic Church become the legitimization of imperialism and support for the genocide of Ukrainians. Of course, it is difficult to admit the idea that this was a deliberate attempt to turn those who support the struggle of Ukrainians for freedom and independence away from the Catholic Church and from Jesus Christ himself, whose vicar is the pontiff. But such words, unfortunately, look like a provocative attempt, if not to
break up, then to bring discord into the ranks of the adherents of the Catholic Church, to compromise the Catholic Church itself, in particular, and Christianity in general.
What purpose did the Pope have in saying this and knowing that he would be heard all over the world, and not just by the target audience in Russia? Questions arise by themselves: Cui bono? Cui prodest?
The white doves set free by the pontiff in January 2014, symbols of peace, were viciously attacked by birds of prey upon release. The pigeons were able to get away from their pursuers, although they lost part of their plumage. It looks like a symbol, not only of evil’s attempts to destroy and kill the world, but also of confirmation of the ancient truth: “Si vis pacem, para bellum”.