Forgiveness Without Accountability: A Moral Dilemma in the Context of War

Pope Francis recently addressed Ukrainian youth, urging them to embrace forgiveness and reject hatred, even amid the ongoing war. While the call for peace is noble, his message raises a critical ethical question: How can victims forgive an aggressor who refuses to acknowledge their crimes?

Forgiveness is often seen as a path to healing, but true reconciliation requires accountability. In cases of war and genocide, forgiveness cannot be one-sided. Without the perpetrator’s recognition of guilt and commitment to justice, calls for forgiveness risk becoming an expectation for the victims to move on while the aggressor remains unrepentant.

russia’s leadership has neither admitted to crimes against Ukraine nor shown remorse for the suffering inflicted. Instead, they continue their aggression, justifying war crimes and erasing historical truths. In this context, urging Ukrainians to forgive, without demanding that Russia take responsibility, risks normalizing impunity rather than fostering genuine peace.

Forgiveness is meaningful only when it is accompanied by justice. True peace cannot be built on the silencing of victims and the absolution of an unrepentant aggressor. If the world truly seeks reconciliation, it must start with truth, accountability, and the recognition of wrongdoing—not by placing the burden of forgiveness solely on those who have suffered.