Pope Francis Still Willing To Visit Ukraine Despite Health Condition as Russia Destroys 113 Churches

Pope Francis will discuss with Ukrainian officials the possibility of a trip to their country amid the continued Russian attacks that destroyed more than 100 churches.

In a question and answer program with children in the Vatican, the 85-year-old pontiff said he would meet with Ukrainian officials soon, according to a Reuters report.

Pope Francis used a wheelchair during the event due to knee pain, which he has endured for quite some time.

"Can you come to Ukraine to save all the children suffering there now?" a Ukrainian boy asked the pope.

Francis responded that the children of Ukraine are always in his thoughts, and he wanted to visit the country. But he admitted that it is a difficult decision for it "could do more harm than good to the rest of the world."

"I have to find the right moment to do it," he said. "Next week, I will receive representatives of the Ukrainian government, who will come here to talk, to talk even about an eventual visit of mine there. We'll see what happens," Francis said, but he did not give further details, according to a Vatican transcript of the event.

Vatican Carefully Balances Diplomacy

The crisis in Ukraine has caused the Vatican to perform a careful diplomatic balancing act, with multiple offers to arbitrate a resolution to the conflict.

In May, Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher visited Kyiv following the sending of two trusted cardinals to Ukraine and neighboring countries to examine the humanitarian needs of Ukrainian refugees and convey Francis' support, as per a report from Time.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church has criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine and used the term "unjustified aggression." He also voiced concern for atrocities committed against civilians. Though, he did not mention the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Francis has been invited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Ukraine's Byzantine-rite Catholic Church, and Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican, Andriy Yurash.

Russian Invasion Destroys 113 Churches in Ukraine, Including Ancient Ones

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russian shelling has "destroyed" 113 churches in its war against Ukraine, per CNN.

"Among them are the ancient ones," Zelensky stated in his nightly address on Saturday. "Those that withstood World War II but not the Russian occupation."

Among the destroyed churches was the Skete of All Saints of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, built in 1991, and its reconstruction started in 2001, according to the Ukrainian head of state.

Zelensky noted that "three Lavra monks were killed by the Russian shelling on Wednesday. Worship services are forced to be held in the basement."

Sviatohirsk Lavra belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is still regarded to be affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, "but even this does not stop the Russian army," Zelensky pointed out.

Zelensky urged the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to "draw conclusions" in light of "the support of the Orthodox hierarchs in Russia for the aggression against Ukraine."

President Zelensky said: "The Russian army can stop burning churches. The Russian army can stop destroying cities. The Russian army can stop killing children. If the same person in Moscow just gives such an order. And the fact that there is still no such order is an obvious humiliation for the whole world."

The Catholic News Agency reported in March that Ukraine's spiritual heritage is "being destroyed by bombing," according to a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church leader.

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said priests were killed in various areas when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.