Cardinal warns war in Ukraine could spiral out of control

by CNS · November 25, 2024

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, celebrates Mass with family members of victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Aug. 26, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

By Carol Glatz, CNS – The situation in Ukraine is very “worrisome” and could spiral out of control, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened that the conflict could spread after Ukraine fired U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles on Nov. 19 and U.K.-supplied cruise missiles on Nov. 20 into Russian territory.

“These developments are very, very worrisome, because we don’t know where they could lead,” the cardinal told reporters when asked at a book presentation in Rome Nov. 22 about the latest developments, adding that his words also reflected the pope’s concern and position. Vatican News published his comments the same day.

Speaking about the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the cardinal said, “Let’s stop now while there is time, because there is no way to know where this escalation will lead!”

“At some point we will no longer know how to control any possible developments” in this conflict, he said, appealing to those in position of authority “to stop before it becomes irreparable.”

The cardinal said the Vatican is continuing its efforts on prisoner exchanges and returning children to Ukraine who had been kidnapped and taken to Russia.

These efforts are also useful “to prepare the ground a little bit toward negotiations,” he added.