"The War in Ukraine Will Influence the Election of the New Pope" – Religious Scholar

According to religious scholar Anatoliy Babyinsky, the war in Ukraine could become one of the key factors influencing the decisions of the cardinals during the upcoming conclave to elect a new Pope. He believes that Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine has affected not only the global geopolitical landscape but has also presented moral and theological challenges for religious leaders that cannot be ignored in choosing the head of the Catholic Church. This was reported by Ukrinform.

“The cardinals may not discuss Ukrainian-Russian relations directly, but the issue of war and peace lies in the sphere of peacemaking, which the Church cannot overlook,” he explained.

In his view, the war has already shaken some long-standing approaches in Catholic theology, particularly regarding disarmament. “We don’t live in as ideal a world as some might have thought. In our circumstances, nonviolent resistance would have been suicide — and even Pope Francis has begun to understand that,” Babyinsky stated.

At the same time, the expert emphasized that not all potential papal candidates equally understand the situation in Ukraine. “There are cardinals from Europe who, while condemning the war, still show a degree of sympathy toward Russia and refuse to acknowledge its imperialist roots,” he said.

Babyinsky also highlighted regional differences in perception of the conflict: “Cardinals from Africa may not view Russia as a colonial power. For them, colonialism is more about the West.”

As for the new Pope’s priorities, Babyinsky believes the primary task will be completing the reform of the Roman Curia. “The Church must more effectively fulfill its main mission — spreading the Gospel,” he emphasized.

It is worth noting that Anatoliy Babyinsky has also said that the new Pope should unequivocally condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as this is the position expected by Ukrainian society.