Ukrainians scorn death of Pope Francis

A Ukrainian lawmaker from Vladimir Zelensky’s ruling party and numerous Ukrainian social media users have posted derisory remarks over the death of Pope Francis. They accused the late pontiff of having pro-Russian sympathies in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.

The Vatican announced on Monday that Pope Francis had died in Rome at the age of 88 due to a “stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.” He had been discharged from hospital in March after spending there five weeks because of an infection that led to him contracting double pneumonia.

While the pontiff’s death prompted an outpouring of condolences from world leaders and faith communities alike, some Ukrainians appeared not to share the sentiment.

Elizaveta Bogutskaya, an MP from Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, wrote on Facebook that she felt no sorrow, describing Pope Francis as a Russia sympathizer.

“I feel no sadness about the Pope’s death. First, he was an old man — eternal life is not granted to anyone except Jesus, and even He achieved it only after death. Second, the Pope was a disciple of Putin, seemingly more than of God. That’s why I don’t know why I should mourn,” Bogutskaya said.

Ukrainian comedian Anton Tymoshenko expressed similar derision, writing on X: “The Pope was killed by a severe respiratory infection, but let’s first hear the infection’s side of the story.”