VATICAN AFFIRMS THAT IT HAS NOT CHANGED ITS POSITION REGARDING CRIMEA
The Vatican complies with decisions of the international community and it has not changed its position regarding Crimea and Sevastopol
A corresponding declaration, as reported by Ukrainskaia Pravda, was made by Federico Lombardi, the general director of Radio Vatican. In particular, he said the Catholic church did not take a position "of a political or territorial nature," when its representative met with a representative of the occupying authority of Crimea.
"The usual practice of the church is concern for the pastoral needs of believers, wherever they may be. To be sure, this presupposes the resolution of issues of an administrative and technical nature, which, however, in no way includes taking positions of a political or territorial character," Federico Lombardi stated. He noted that the church tries not to interfere in matters of such a nature and it complies with the decisions of the international community.
"As regards Ukraine, the position of the Holy See is clearly and regularly noted during public statements and it remains today unchanged," Lombardi said.
We recall that there was a meeting in Sevastopol between the assistant bishop of the Odessa-Simferopol diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, Vladyka Yatsek Pil, and a representative of the occupying government.
"The bishop thanked the government of Sevastopol for its cooperation with Catholics, including the legal registration of the parish of Saint Clement and the pastoral district in the republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol," Radio Vatican reported. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 November 2015)
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