Pope Francis criticized Ukraine's ban on its Orthodox Church, linked to Russia, during Sunday prayers.
Pope Francis criticized Ukraine's recent ban on its Orthodox Church, which the Ukrainian government claims is linked to Russia. The Pope stated in his Sunday prayers that no Christian church should be abolished directly or indirectly and that individuals cannot commit evil by praying. Ukraine's government enacted the ban due to the Moscow Patriarchate's support for the Russian war of aggression. The Pope defended the right to pray and stressed that one does not commit evil by praying. Ukraine previously accused the Pope of taking sides with Russia, an allegation the Vatican denies. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which once set the tone in Ukraine's religious landscape, severed ties with Russia and condemned the war after the Russian invasion. However, Ukraine's government accuses the church of justifying Russian crimes against its own people and spreading Russian propaganda. The ban affects an estimated three million worshippers.