Pope Francis has explained what he meant when he spoke of "great Russia" to Russian youth on 25 August. He remembered Peter I and Catherine II from school, and mentioning them "maybe wasn't quite right".

Source: The Pope in a comment to journalists on board a plane from Mongolia, Vatican News report

Quote: "I wasn't thinking of imperialism when I said that. I spoke of culture."

Details: Pope Francis explained that he encouraged Russian youth at the time to protect the legacy of their homeland "because the Russian legacy is very good; it is very beautiful".

To explain what kind of legacy he was talking about, the Pontiff resorted to the idea of "great Russia".

Quote: "Think about the field of literature, of music, going back to Dostoevsky, who today speaks to us of mature humanism. (Russia) took charge [of] this humanism, which developed in the arts and literature. This would be a second aspect when I spoke of legacy, wouldn't it?

The third point, perhaps, wasn’t appropriate, but speaking of great Russia not so much in a geographical sense, but in a cultural sense, I remembered what we were taught at school: Peter I, Catherine II. And this third (point, ed.) came up, which maybe wasn't quite right. I don't know. Let the historians tell us. But it was an additional note that came to my mind because I had studied it at school."

More details: At the same time, Francis is convinced that "Russian culture is of a great beauty, and depth, and should not be cancelled for political issues."

Background:

• On 25 August, Francis addressed the participants of the 10th All-Russian Day of Catholic Youth in St Petersburg.
• In his speech, the pontiff said the following: "Never forget your heritage. You are the descendants of great Russia: the great Russia of saints and leaders, the great Russia of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, that empire – a great, enlightened country of great culture and great humanity. Never give up this heritage. You are the descendants of the great Mother Russia, so go forward with it. And thank you – thank you for your way of being, for your way of being Russians,."
• The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reacted to the Pope's words, saying that Francis is spreading Russian great-power ideas, which the Kremlin uses to justify the murders of Ukrainians.
• Earlier in July, Pope Francis called on Russia to restore the Black Sea grain initiative, addressing "his brothers – the authorities of the Russian Federation".

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