Pope Francis urged Russia on Sunday to reconsider its decision to terminate the Black Sea grain pact, which had allowed Ukraine to export food from its seaports despite the ongoing conflict.
“I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, so that the Black Sea initiative may be resumed and grain may be transported safely,” Francis stated in his weekly Angelus address.
Global wheat prices have risen after Russia left the accord struck by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 and began targeting Ukrainian ports and agricultural infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River.
In a speech to throngs in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis asked them to continue praying “for martyred Ukraine, where war is destroying everything, even grain,” calling this “a grave insult to God.”
“The cry of millions of brothers and sisters who are suffering from hunger is rising up to the sky,” said the head of the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics.
Russia withdrew from the Black Sea agreement after claiming that its expectations for sanctions relief on its own grain and fertilizer exports had not been granted. Moscow also expressed concern that not enough food was reaching impoverished countries.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to give food to Africa, some of it for free, but African Union Chair Azali Assoumani answered that this “may not be quite enough.”
Since the situation in Ukraine began last year, Pope has regularly decried Russia’s actions while simultaneously attempting to maintain an open line of contact with Moscow, with limited success.
In May, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the president of the Italian bishops’ conference, as a peace envoy. Zuppi has visited Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington to work for the repatriation of children from Russia and Russia-controlled territories to Ukraine.
