Pope Francis Calls on Russia to Reverse Decision on Black Sea Grain Deal
VATICAN CITY, July 30 – Pope Francis has made a plea to the Russian authorities to reconsider their decision to abandon the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports despite the ongoing war. The Pope made this appeal during his weekly Angelus message on Sunday.
The withdrawal of Russia from the pact, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, has caused global wheat prices to soar. Since July 17, Russia has been targeting Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River.
Speaking to crowds in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis urged the faithful to continue praying for Ukraine, stating that the war is destroying everything, including grain, which he called “a grave insult to God.” He emphasized that the cry of millions of people suffering from hunger is reaching the heavens.
Russia’s decision to leave the Black Sea deal came after claiming that its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertilizer exports were not met. Moscow also expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of grain reaching poor countries.
In response to the situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to supply Africa with grain, some of it for free. However, the chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, stated that this may not be sufficient.
Pope Francis has consistently condemned Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine since the conflict broke out last year. However, he has also sought to maintain an open channel of communication with Moscow, with limited success.
In May, the Pope appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the head of the Italian bishops’ conference, as a peace envoy. Zuppi has visited Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington, and is currently working on the repatriation of children from Russia and Russia-controlled areas to Ukraine.
The situation remains tense, with the Pope’s appeal adding to the international pressure on Russia to reconsider its decision and resume the Black Sea grain deal. The impact of this decision on global wheat prices and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine cannot be ignored.
Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Angus MacSwan and Susan Fenton
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
What were the reasons behind Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal?
Pope Francis Urges Russia to Reverse Decision on Black Sea Grain Deal
In a heartfelt plea, Pope Francis has called on Russian authorities to reconsider their decision to abandon the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports amidst the ongoing war. The Pope made this appeal during his weekly Angelus message on Sunday.
The withdrawal of Russia from the pact, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, has caused global wheat prices to skyrocket. Russia has been targeting Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River since July 17.
Addressing a crowd in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis asked the faithful to continue praying for Ukraine, stating that the war is devastating everything, including the grain, which he called a “grave insult to God.” He emphasized that the cries of millions of people suffering from hunger are reaching the heavens.
Russia’s decision to leave the Black Sea deal came after claiming that its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertilizer exports were not met. Moscow also expressed discontent with the amount of grain reaching impoverished nations.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to supply Africa with grain, some of it at no cost. However, the chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, stated that this may not be enough.
Pope Francis has consistently condemned Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine since the conflict began last year. However, he has also tried to maintain an open channel of communication with Moscow, with limited success.
In May, the Pope appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the head of the Italian bishops’ conference, as a peace envoy. Zuppi has visited Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington, and is currently working on repatriating children from Russia and Russia-controlled areas to Ukraine.
The situation remains tense, with the Pope’s appeal adding to international pressure on Russia to reconsider its decision and resume the Black Sea grain deal. The impact of this decision on global wheat prices and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine cannot be overlooked.
Pope Francis’ plea to reinstate the Black Sea grain deal is a powerful call for Russia to prioritize humanity over politics. It is imperative that both countries resolve this issue promptly to alleviate the prevailing humanitarian crisis.
It is commendable to see Pope Francis advocating for a reinstatement of the Black Sea grain deal with Russia, highlighting the urgency of addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Collaboration and solidarity are crucial in ensuring food security for those in need.