What’s the Vatican saying about Pope Francis and Ukraine?

A Pillar Explainer

Pope Francis presides at a prayer vigil at the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2014. © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

The Holy See press office released a statement on Tuesday defending Pope Francis’ remarks concerning the Ukraine war.

The 146-word communiqué, published on Aug. 30 initially in Italian and later in English, sought to clarify the purpose of the pope’s inter…