Cardinals prepare for the conclave. Archive photo: AFP
The Russian-Ukrainian war is increasingly affecting global religious processes, including the Catholic Church.
The issue of the war in Ukraine will be one of the key factors that will influence the upcoming conclave, a meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope. This was stated by religious scholar Ihor Kozlovsky in an interview with Ukrinform.
“This is not only a war between two states, but also a challenge for the global religious community. The church cannot stay away from such dramatic events,” the expert noted.
According to him, a significant number of cardinals who will participate in the conclave feel the pressure to take a moral stand against Russia’s aggression and the Russian Orthodox Church’s policies. So far, the Vatican has been cautious, but changes in the mood among the clergy indicate that the future pontiff may take a clearer pro-Ukrainian stance.
Analysts point out that global challenges such as the war in Europe are already shaping the Catholic Church’s policy and may determine its new course.
