• Pope in his address to the public, gathered in St. Peter’s Square, made his strongest plea so far on ending the 7-month-long Russia invasion.
• The speech also marked first time Francis publicly cited Putin’s role in the war.
• Pontiff said “stop this spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine and the “absurd” risks of nuclear attacks, the threats of which now becoming part of the war rhetoric.
• Francis also called upon Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to “be open” to serious peace proposals.

Tagged: World War III