After the Pope’s statement on Ukraine: German politician Strack-Zimmermann is ashamed “as a Catholic” (translation in comments)
by cito
After the Pope’s statement on Ukraine: German politician Strack-Zimmermann is ashamed “as a Catholic” (translation in comments)
by cito
19 comments
*Translation*
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## Strack-Zimmermann is ashamed “as a Catholic”
**Pope Francis has called on Ukraine to negotiate with Russia “before things get even worse”. There is now criticism, including from Germany. FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann in particular has clear words.**
FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has clearly contradicted Pope Francis’ appeal for peace negotiations in the Ukraine war. “Before the Ukrainian victims raise the white flag, the Pope should loudly and unmistakably call on the brutal Russian perpetrators to take down their pirate flag – the symbol of death and Satan,” the chairwoman of the Bundestag Defense Committee told the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers. “And why in God’s name does he not condemn the verbal murderous incitement of Cyril I, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and ex-KGB agent, towards the Ukrainian people?” asked Strack-Zimmermann. She added: “As a Catholic, I am ashamed that he refrains from doing this.”
### Pope: “Courage to surrender, to the white flag”
Pope Francis had called for negotiations in view of the war in Ukraine, which has now been going on for more than two years. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you must have the courage to negotiate,” said the head of the Catholic Church in an interview on Swiss television. In the interview, Francis is also asked about demands from Ukraine for “the courage to surrender, the white flag”, which others see as legitimizing the stronger side. The Pope responds in general terms: “That is a question of perspective. But I think that the stronger side is the one that recognizes the situation, that thinks of the people, that has the courage of the white flag to negotiate.”
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also showed no understanding for Francis’ comments. “How about encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine as compensation? Then peace would return immediately, without the need for negotiations,” Sikorski wrote on Platform X.
Poland is one of the most committed political and military supporters of Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia. The EU and NATO member has taken in almost one million refugees from its eastern neighbor.
### Further dissenting voices from Germany
Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt also contradicted the Pope’s statements. “Nobody wants peace more than Ukraine,” the Green politician told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). There has been war on its territory for ten years and countless people have been killed. However, Göring-Eckardt added: “It is Vladimir Putin who can end the war and the suffering immediately – not Ukraine. Anyone who demands that Ukraine simply surrender is giving the aggressor what he has illegally taken, and is thus accepting the annihilation of Ukraine.” Göring-Eckardt emphasized: “Peace will and must be negotiated – but at eye level.”
The President of the Protestant Church Congress 2025 in Hanover, Anja Siegesmund, told RND: “The longing for peace must not lead to the right of the supposedly strongest to prevail.”
I would have thought all the child rapes and coverups would be where people would draw the line.
The pope is probably watching RT.
Well said- the Pope has thoroughly disgraced himself!
Shes the strongest man in the Bundestag
“Give up”; just like the Papacy has given up on righting the wrongs of sexual abusers within its own ranks.
“Know when you’re beaten”. I’m having a steak this Friday, I guess. Fish prices are high. I know when I’m beaten.
As the Ukraine shifts westward, in it’s alliances and thinking, hopefully the influence of the church will also diminish even further.
Sacked in the morning!
Sacked in the mooooourning! ⛪
in the end everyone is a product of their environment. The pope is an old white man who has very little connection to the reality and whats going on. I couldnt care less what he or any religous leader says. im just curious why he wouldnt tell russia to raise the white flag.
And I thought those people think the pope is like good on earth. How can she call herself catholic?
So the Pope is bought by Putin too?
I’m not sure which Catholics actually like the current pope. I haven’t met any who actually think the guy should be pope.
Stack-Zimmermann: “I was fine with child m——-ion, silencing families and media, as well as protecting the priests and cardinals who did it… but **this** is too much.”
A German politician named Zimmerman that is in office during a major European war?
Where have I seen that before?
I’m with the ghibellines on this one. Down with the guelphs.
Did you guys see that the Pope and Prigojin look the same if you change their clothes?
As a Canadian, I still see the effects to this day of the Catholic Church’s role in colonization. One can see a lot of parallels between Russia’s genocidal campaign and the one Church helped wage in Canada for 100’s of years.
TLDR; f*** this guy and his church. He’s the last person that should have a say in the matter.
Popes should stick to Tal about what they really know like getting away with running’s huge child abuse ring
Just now being ashamed of being catholic?! I thought that was the whole premise of the religion.
Mwah…. don’t be surprised. The Catholic Church has a good reputation of being terrible wrong in war times …