Russian media and Telegram channels’ claims that the Pope has allegedly called on Ukrainian authorities to dismiss the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra abbot is baseless. As of today, none of the Vatican’s official resources have published anything about this.
Russian propaganda Telegram channels, as well as some media outlets, are disseminating claims that the Pope has allegedly called on Ukrainian authorities to dismiss the abbot of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavlo of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl.
Some Russian media outlets point out that the pontiff allegedly made this statement during a personal conversation with the head of the World Union of Old Believers, Leonid Sevastyanov. Old Believers are Eastern Orthodox Christians who adhere to Russian Orthodox Church liturgical and ritual practices as they were before the reforms of Patriarch Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666.
Leonid Sevastyanov has repeatedly made high-profile statements in the Russian media, citing his personal conversations with the Pope. For example, in May 2023, he declared that the Pope had allegedly called on Ukraine to abandon the counteroffensive. In February 2023, he reported on the Pope’s desire to visit eastern Russia, in particular, the Leopard Land National Park. In June 2023, he talked about Pope Francis’ plans to visit Moscow in the near future. The head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Antony (Sevriuk) of Volokolamsk, told Russian media that the information about the Pontiff’s visit to Moscow was untrue. He stated that none of the meetings that he had in the Vatican discussed the topic of the pope’s visit to Russia. Sevastyanov’s other statements also were never confirmed. Even Russian propaganda media outlets are highly distrustful of Sevastyanov’s statements and have repeatedly accused him of spreading fakes.
None of the Vatican’s official platforms (website, official Pope’s and Vatican’s Twitter pages) have published any information about the pontiff calling on the Ukrainian authorities to dismiss the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra abbot, Metropolitan Pavlo of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl. Moreover, the Vatican’s website Audiences section does not contain information about the Pope meeting with the head of the World Union of Old Believers Leonid Sevastyanov in 2023.
The Ukrainian Security Service has accused the Metropolitan, whose real name is Pavel Lebed, of inciting religious hatred (Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), as well as justifying and denying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine (Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code). The Kyiv Region Prosecutor’s Office reports that their investigations have shown that, in telephone conversations with the faithful, Lebed incited national, regional, and religious hatred. Metropolitan Pavlo of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchy) is currently in custody.
The Holy See has not commented on the arrest of the Metropolitan. At the same time, in March 2023, the Pontiff called on Russia and Ukraine to be tolerant of each other’s religion and respect places of religious worship. “I think of the Orthodox nuns in Kyiv and ask the warring parties to respect religious shrines. People who devote themselves to prayer are the backbone of the people of God, no matter what denomination they are. I urge everyone to continue with commitment on the Lenten route faithfully, entrusting you to the constant intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God. To her, the Comforter of the suffering, we entrust the tortured Ukrainian people,” the Pope said.
Earlier, StopFake journalists debunked manipulative Russian information citing a Foreign Affairs publication that Pope Francis allegedly “supported Russia’s stance” on Ukraine.
