Ukraine upset by Vatican inviting Russian to carry cross
ABC News
A close associate of Pope Francis is defending the Vatican's decision to have a Russian woman and a Ukrainian woman carry the cross together during a Good Friday procession in Rome
ROME -- A close associate of Pope Francis on Wednesday defended the Vatican’s decision to have a Russian woman and a Ukrainian woman carry the cross together during a Good Friday procession that will be presided over by the pontiff.
On Tuesday, both the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See and the archbishop of Kyiv blasted the choice given Russia’s invasion and war in Ukraine. The women are both nurses who work together at a Rome hospital.
Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Yurash tweeted that he “understands and shares general concern in Ukraine and many other communities about idea to bring together Ukrainian and Russian women” to carry the cross during part of the procession on Friday.
“Now we are working on the issue trying to explain difficulties of its realization and possible consequences,” the ambassador said.
