Imagine this scenario: what if the Pope suggested that God should raise a white flag to negotiate with Satan to prevent further casualties? If the Pope himself wouldn't do so, why would Ukraine?
Considering the balance: the Pope believes that "initiating" war is the responsibility of both parties, yet he avoids the fact that "there's always one who attacks first," hence the other party is invaded. If the Vatican were to face a terrorist attack one day, does the Pope also bear responsibility as he said?Consider the historical context: Were the Vatican's judgments and interventions in matters of Realpolitik before and during World War II wise, or were they rather naive moves?
While the Pope's remarks are truly food for thought, they are only suitable for closed-door negotiations by mediators. As a religious leader, there are some things he should never touch. "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" not only regulates Caesar but also God.
想像一下：教宗說上帝應向撒旦舉白旗以進入談判，避免更多人死傷？假使教宗不願意，為何烏克蘭願意？
思考一下：教宗認為「發動」戰爭是雙方的責任，卻迴避「總有一方先動手」（從而一方是被侵略者）的事實。假使有朝一日梵蒂岡被恐怖攻擊，難道教廷也有責任？
回顧一下：梵蒂岡在二次大戰之前與戰爭期間對政治的判斷與介入行為，是睿知或是天真？
即便教宗前述發言的內容值得人類深思，卻僅適合由斡旋者說出，作為宗教領袖是千萬不能觸碰的。
「上帝歸上帝，凱薩歸凱薩」，這句話規範的對象不僅是凱薩，也是上帝。
教宗談烏克蘭戰爭 籲要有勇氣舉白旗談判 央廣 20240310
瑞士廣播電視台(RTS)9日報導，天主教教宗方濟各(Pope Francis)呼籲烏克蘭戰爭各方，在「局勢變得更糟糕之前進行談判」。
87歲的教宗2月初在接受瑞士廣播電視台訪問時，被問到在烏克蘭國內有關是否應向俄羅斯投降、或此舉只會讓武力合法化的辯論。
方濟各表示，他認為最堅強的是那些能看清情勢，為人民著想，勇敢舉起白旗並進行談判的人。
教宗在談到包括哈瑪斯(Hamas)與以色列戰爭在內的整體戰事時說，談判絕非投降，而是讓國家不會走上自殺之路的勇氣。
他表示，談判是個勇敢的字眼，當處於劣勢、事情不順利時要有勇氣去談判。
這位全球天主教會的領袖說，人們可能會為投降感到羞恥，但要問戰爭將造成多少人死亡？「今天，以烏克蘭戰爭為例，許多人都想出面調停，比如說土耳其。在情勢變得更糟糕之前，不要羞於談判」。
教宗也被問到以哈戰爭，他將責任歸咎於雙方。「戰爭是雙方製造的，不是單方。不負責任的是發動戰爭的雙方」。
天主教教宗方濟各稱烏克蘭應有勇氣舉白旗 藉談判結束戰爭 香港01 20240310
路透社3月9日引述瑞媒稱，天主教教宗方濟各（Pope Francis）2月受訪時指，烏克蘭應需有勇氣舉白旗，並藉與俄羅斯談判來結束戰爭。
路透社3月9日引述瑞士媒體RSI訪問教宗的內容指，教宗發表上述言論。
教宗表示：「但我認為最強的人就是看情況、為人民着想、有舉白旗的勇氣、談判的人。」他稱談判這個詞是一個勇敢的詞，當人看到自己被擊敗，事情進展不順利時，須有勇氣去談判。
教宗方濟各2023年6月7日現身聖伯多祿廣場，並與現場人士握手。（Reuters）
梵蒂岡發言人布魯尼（Matteo Bruni）發聲明指，教宗受訪時用提問的人所選的「白旗」一詞，並用它來「表示停止敵對行動以及通過談判的勇氣來實現停火」。
Pope says Ukraine should have 'courage of the white flag' of negotiations Reuters 20240309
ROME, March 9 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has said in an interview that Ukraine should have what he called the courage of the "white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia that followed Moscow's full-scale invasion two years ago and that has killed tens of thousands. 教宗方濟各在接受採訪時表示，烏克蘭應該擁有他所謂的「白旗」勇氣，並透過談判結束兩年前莫斯科全面入侵後與俄羅斯的戰爭。這已經導致數萬人死亡。
Francis made his comments in an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, well before Friday's latest offer by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.
Erdogan made the fresh offer after a meeting in Istanbul with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy has said while he wants peace he will not give up any territory.
The Ukrainian leader's own peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine and the restoration of its state borders. The Kremlin has ruled out engaging in peace talks on terms set by Kyiv.
A spokesman for Zelenskiy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the pope's remarks.
In the interview Francis was asked for his position on a debate between those who say Ukraine should give up as it has not been able to repel Russian forces, and those who say doing so would legitimise actions by the strongest party. The interviewer used the term "white flag" in the question. 在採訪中，教宗被問到他對一場辯論的立場，這場辯論中，有些人認為烏克蘭應該放棄，因為它無法擊退俄羅斯軍隊，而另一些人則認為這樣做將使最強政黨的行動合法化。面試官在問題中使用了「白旗」一詞。
"It is one interpretation, that is true," Francis said, according to an advance transcript of the interview and a partial video made available to Reuters on Saturday. It is due to be broadcast on March 20 as part of a new cultural programme. 根據週六向路透社提供的採訪預稿和部分影片，教宗說：「這是一種解釋，這是事實。」該節目將於 3 月 20 日作為新文化節目的一部分播出。
