Pope Francis condemns ‘barbarity’ as tens of thousand protest across Europe

POPE Francis has denounced the “barbarity” of killing children and other defenceless civilians in Ukraine, as he associated himself with street protests against the war.

In his customary Sunday noon appearance, he told a crowd of around 25,000 in St Peter’s Square, there were “no valid strategic reasons” for the “harrowing war”.

Calling for renewed efforts on peace negotiations, he said: “All that is needed is to stop the unacceptable armed aggression before it reduces cities to cemeteries. With grief in my heart, I join my voice to that of the common people who implore an end to the war.

“In the name of God, I ask you: stop this massacre.”

He was speaking as tens of thousands of protested across Europe against the war and in support of the Ukrainian people.

Small vigils also took place in Russia despite a crackdown by authorities.

Protesters also took to the street in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Kherson in support of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Artem Ivanov, 42, said Russian soldiers shot bullets into the air as people congregated in the city centre at midday yesterday.

“There were a lot of people, around 5,000,” the teacher said.

“The people held Ukrainian flags and posters with the words ‘Russian soldiers go back home’ and ‘We support President Zelenskyy’.

“The Russian soldiers were shooting at the air but the Kherson people did not stop and just continued protesting.”

Thousands protested in Berlin after trade unions organised a march from Alexanderplatz – named after Russian tsar Alexander I – to near the Brandenburg Gate, a landmark representing peace and freedom since German unification.

Several participants said they were Russians ashamed about what their country was doing.

“We’re against this war so we wanted to show our solidarity,” Aleksandra Belozerova, a Russian studying in Germany, said. “It’s the least we can do in this situation.”

Across Russia, human rights group OVD-INFO said almost

670 people had been detained in 36 cities by late afternoon Moscow time.

Anti-war protests were also staged in Warsaw, London, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Stuttgart.

There was a far-right, pro-russia protest in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade.