On March 13, Pope Francis expressed his most vehement denunciation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, declaring that the "unacceptable armed assault" must end.
Francis also stressed that killing children and defenceless civilians was "barbaric" and had "no acceptable strategic purpose" as he spoke to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing.
He referred to Mariupol as a "martyred city" and reiterated his request for "really secure humanitarian corridors" to allow citizens to flee.
"In the name of God I ask you: stop this massacre!," the pope said, adding that Ukrainian cities risked "being reduced to cemeteries."
He has not used the word "Russia" in his condemnations of the war since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion on February 24.
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