Pope Said that Arms Supply to Ukraine is “morally acceptable

Pope Francis said on Friday that it was “morally acceptable” to provide Ukraine with weapons to enable it to defend itself against Russian aggression. He expounded the Roman Catholic Church’s principle of “just war” to support his view. The Pope spoke with reporters on a plane after a three-day visit to Kazakhstan. The Pope also urged Ukraine to be open to dialogue. Pope Francis spoke to reporters during a 45-minute on-air news conference.

One reporter asked whether it was morally right for countries to send weapons to Ukraine. “This is a political decision which it can be moral, morally acceptable, if it is done under conditions of morality,” Francis said.

He cited the principle of “just war”, which allows the proportional use of lethal weapons in self-defense against an aggressor nation. “Self defence is not only licit but also an expression of love for the homeland. Someone who does not defend oneself, who does not defend something, does not love it. Those who defend (something) love it,” he said.

Explaining the difference between whether it is moral or immoral to provide weapons to another country, Francis said: “It can be immoral if the intention is provoking more war, or to sell arms or dump arms that (a country) no longer needs. The motivation is what in large part qualifies the morality of this action.”

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th. Western countries, including the United States, have shipped millions of dollars worth of weapons and equipment to Ukraine. After suffering setbacks after setbacks in the first six months of the war, Ukraine has recently been able to retake large swathes of the country’s eastern region.