Pope had no intention to glorify Russian imperialism - Vatican
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FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis attends a meeting with nuns of Sisters Disciples of Jesus in the Eucharist in Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, August 25, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis had no intention of glorifying past Russian imperialism in a speech last week to Russian youths that has come under fire in Ukraine, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
"The Pope intended to encourage young people to preserve and promote all that is positive in the great Russian cultural and spiritual heritage, and certainly not to exalt imperialist logic and government personalities, mentioned to indicate some historical periods of reference," the Vatican said in a statement. REUTERS