Pope sees US, Russia as dangerous allies
July 11, 2017
Pope Francis reportedly said that he is worried by “very dangerous alliances between powers that have a distorted vision of the world,” in a new interview with the Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari.
According to Scalfari, the 93-year-old founder of La Repubblica, the Pope listed the nations that he sees as members of the dangerous alliances: “America and Russia, China and North Korea, Russia and Assad in the war in Syria.”
In the interview, conducted before the meeting of the G20 leaders in Hamburg, the Pope said that he was dismayed by the policies set by G20 nations, because they harm the poor. He argued that wealthy nations create the circumstances that force people to flee from their homes in poor countries, yet the same wealthy countries “fear an invasion of immigrants.”
Regarding the future of Europe, the Pope said that Europe “must become a federal community or it will no longer count for anything in the world,” according to Scalfari’s account in La Repubblica.
Scalfari has now published several interviews with Pope Francis. The Italian journalist does not record the conversations, nor does he take notes; he reconstructs the dialogue from memory. Vatican officials have cautioned that the quotations attributed to the Pontiff in Scalfari’s accounts may not be accurate.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Pope Francis: ‘Europe must be federal’ (Catholic Herald)
- Pope warns of ‘dangerous alliances’ among G20 powers (AFP)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: mwean7331 -
Jul. 14, 2017 8:29 PM ET USA
I cannot understand this animosity for Russia . it is no longer communist. It is a world power. Why not ally with a world power that seems to have some convictions. The rest of Europe doesn't know where it is going or what to do about it They are "on the ropes" If two world powers respect each other what is the problem? somebody tell me. I vote for relations with Russia After the atrocities committed by Germany in WWII why are we now "talking" to Germany??
-
Posted by: FredC -
Jul. 12, 2017 6:43 PM ET USA
Which countries would the pope like to see in alliance? Which countries does the pope see have a proper world view?
-
Posted by: Bernadette -
Jul. 12, 2017 2:36 PM ET USA
I agree with space 15796. The pope should get out of politics and stick to teaching and governing the Church in the Name of Jesus Christ Her founder. I am totally in favor with dialoguing and working at better relations with Russia and with all our so-called "enemies."
-
Posted by: space15796 -
Jul. 12, 2017 12:28 PM ET USA
So a belligerence between super powers is preferred? Really? Ever heard of WWII where possibly five-fold the number of Russian/Soviet lives were lost compared to all other nations combined, rescuing Europe and the west from fascism? Yet you regret an "alliance" - a word which was poorly chosen if in fact he said that. Peace and cooperation is in our best interest, unless we are talking about Russia, then we are supposed to hate them. That's not Catholic.
