Pope says ‘slaughters and atrocities’ committed daily in Ukraine

“It is a senseless massacre where every day slaughters and atrocities are being repeated,” Francis said in his latest strong condemnation of the war, which has so far avoided mentioning Russia by name.

“There is no justification for this,” he said. Moscow says the action it launched on Feb 24 is a “special military operation” designed not to occupy territory but to demilitarise its neighbour and purge it what it sees as dangerous nationalists.

Francis has already rejected that terminology. “I beg all the players in the international community to truly commit themselves to stopping this repugnant war,” the pope said, drawing loud cheers and applause from the crowd.

“Even this week missiles and bombs hit civilians, the elderly, children and pregnant mothers,” he said. Russia denies targeting civilians.

Francis spoke about his visit on Saturday to a Rome hospital that is treating children wounded in Ukraine. “One was missing an arm and another had a head wound,” he said.