Pope Francis denounces ‘abuse of power’ in Russia-Ukraine war

Pontiff asserts Ukraine's right to exist as a sovereign state and to defend itself against Russian invasion

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Pope Francis has denounced the perverse abuse of power" on display in Russia's war in Ukraine and called for aid to Ukrainians, whom he said had been attacked in their identity, history and tradition" and were defending their land".

Francis's comments, in a message to a gathering of European Catholic representatives on Friday, were some of his strongest yet in asserting Ukraine's right to exist as a sovereign state and to defend itself against Russia's invasion.