Pope’s Nuncio to Ukrainian religious expert: Your logic leads to acknowledgment of civil war in Ukraine

A statement made by Director of the Department for History of Religions and Practical Religious Studies of the NASU professor Ludmila Filipovich that the Nuncio’s visit to Donetsk and Lugansk is a demonstration of support for separatists appears as an acknowledgement of the civil war in Ukraine. It was said by diplomatic representativeof Vatican in Ukraine Archbishop Gugerotti in his comments to the resource RISU.

“Undoubtedly, without any intention thereto, madam professor spells out the affirmative, favored by those who are in control of the territories uncontrolled by the Ukrainian government, says Gugerotti. – If a visit to Donbass is unlawful, then part of Donbass is not a Ukrainian territory, in which the accredited diplomat implements his activity within the law, isn’t it? If this statement is true, then it runs counter not only to everything what is declared by the Ukrainian authorities, but also to the efforts of all those states or state bodies that buttress the preservation of territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

“There is also a logical alternative here, he adds. – Madam Professor believes the notion of territorial integrity needs to be restricted by the land surface only without taking its citizens into account (who in this case must be exterminated or deported for the reality to be consistent with international law). Thus, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine could visit those lands on a legal basis, since the point is not to meet with people, isn’t it?”

The Nuncio believes that the words said by Filipovich that “there should not be any link between two parts of the same nation” leads to the same thing, declared by “separatists and their advocates, namely: the recognition of the civil war between Ukrainians who live in the West and those who live in the East beyond the demarcation line.”

“Is the territory beyond the line of demarcation inhabited by persons without naturalization or persons with the Russian citizenship? Is it what the respected madam professor means?”, concluded Vatican’s representative.

Earlier on, Director of the Department for History of Religions and Practical Religious Studies of the NASU professor Ludmila Filipovich has repeatedly condemned numerous visits of the Apostolic Nuncio to Donetsk and Lugansk. “I am not convinced enough by Vatican’s substantiation on the expediency of these trips. The Nuncio said the main purpose of the Church is to build bridges. The question is – with whom and what for? To build bridges with the enemies of Ukraine? At the height of military confrontation? In the situation, when the enemy is not even about to repent and is confident about his actions, killing thousands of people? We cannot but rejoice at the initiative “Pope for Ukraine” – it is huge money for us at the moment. The problem is who they support and who gets the resources,” said Filipovich in her interview with RISU edition on 3 January.