On October 25, Pope Francis led leaders of world religions in an appeal to avert the threat of nuclear war in Ukraine. At the closing ceremony of a conference organised by the Sant’ Egidio Community, Pope Francis warned of a “bleak scenario” echoing Pope John XXIII who delivered a similar message during the Cuban missile crisis.
It seems somewhat paradoxical then that Pope Francis continues to maintain good relations with China, Russia’s last remaining ally, where the government has waged crackdowns over the years on religious believers, especially Uyghur Muslims, but also Christians. China also continues to threaten the territorial integrity of Taiwan, an island democracy which China views as its own.
