This past week, Pope Francis went to the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan. He went there for a gathering of world religious leaders. But several notable events happened, or in some cases, didn’t happen. They are instructive for us as we watch and pray for peace in the world.

 

The first is that for some time, the pope had hoped to meet at this gathering Kirill I, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. Behind that imposing title is the influence that Kirill has as one of the leaders of the Orthodox Christians who, for complicated historical reasons are not in union with the Successor of Peter. Pope Francis had hoped to meet with Patriarch Kirill as a possible step toward healing that division.

 

However, Kirill has spoken repeatedly endorsing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a result, Pope Francis has publicly challenged the Patriarch’s position. And the pope used the meeting last week to assert before the religious leaders and the world that God is peace and He never leads to war.

 

Patriarch Kirill announced several weeks ago that he had now decided not to attend the gathering. The meeting with Pope Francis did not take place as a result. Nevertheless, Pope Francis spoke the truth and words of peace, even at the cost of this greatly desired encounter.

 

Something similar happened with regard to China and its President Xi Jinping. At the same time that Pope Francis was in Kazakhstan last week, the Chinese leader was also making a state visit to that country. 

 

The relationship between the Vatican and China has long been very complicated and thorny. The Catholic Church has been recognized as a threat by the Communist government. It has arrested bishops, priests and faithful for decades, and a parallel state-run Catholic Church has been established. Recently, in Hong Kong the aged Cardinal Zen was arrested in what is widely interpreted to be a move against the Church and the cardinal’s religious liberty.

 

Three years ago, the Vatican and China signed an agreement to regulate elements of their relations including the right of the Holy Father to appoint bishops. That agreement has been repeatedly violated by the Chinese government.

 

There had been hopes that Pope Francis and President Xi might meet in Kazakhstan. Pope Francis has long desired to pursue dialogue with the Chinese so that what has not been successful to this point in protecting and freeing the Church in that country might come about. In this case too, despite the Holy Father’s efforts, no dialogue was possible.

 

Finally, on his flight home, Pope Francis held a live press conference with the reporters on the plane who had accompanied him on the trip. One question posed to him was about the war going on in Ukraine. Specifically, the Holy Father was asked if it was moral to give arms to Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian invasion.

 

Pope Francis’s response was at the same time nuanced and clear. He said that it would be immoral to send arms if that was done with the intent to provoke further war, to encourage arm sales or to discard weapons no longer needed. But he went on to say that if those arms were received for self-defense, it would be moral and even an act of love of country. As he put it, “One who does not defend something does not love that thing. On the other hand one who defends, loves.”

 

Pope Francis had a challenging trip. But he showed us his conviction to put himself out for the cause of peace, even if he did not find his efforts to be reciprocated or successful. He also restated the Church’s teaching about self-defense, even as he called for peace in Ukraine.

 

In short, the Holy Father showed us the beauty and wisdom of the guidance that faith can give us. And he witnessed to the need to work to apply our faith in a world that is both threatening and complicated.