Łukašenka hoping to meet Pope Francis

February 10, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has asked to convey his “best wishes” to Pope Francis at his meeting with Belarus’ religious leaders in Minsk, his press office reports.
“He is a really tough man. A man who does not just live and serve. He is straightforward when addressing people of all walks of life,” he said, hoping for an eventual meeting with the pontiff.
Belarusian authorities have repeatedly pointed out similarities in the positions of Minsk and the Vatican. Some experts say that Łukašenka wants to use contacts with the Holy See to resume dialogue with the West.
Plans for diplomatic rapprochement include the opening of the Belarusian embassy to the Vatican this year.
Łukašenka visited the Vatican twice, most recently in May 2016 when he met Pope Francis.
After the contested 2020 presidential election, the relationship between the state and the Roman Catholic Church deteriorated as many clerics and faithful openly condemned violence and reprisals against peaceful protesters. Priests were arrested, tried and jailed, while some have fled Belarus.
At least 86 preachers, including 31 Catholic priests, faced politically-motivated persecution since 2020, the Chryscijanskaja Vizija monitoring group said.
Catholicism is the second-largest Christian denomination in Belarus. There are about 1.5 million Catholics, including more than 10,000 Greek Catholics.
Also read: Pope Francis, Belarusian bishop discuss dialogue with government
Łukašenka reiterates invitation to Pope Francis to visit Belarus
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja welcomes new EU sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNew terrorist designations announcedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition urges Washington to appoint special envoy for BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka issues edict to detail wartime transport requisitioning proceduresThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityOpposition politician Łatuška welcomes EU sanctions as show of strengthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsTbilisi court rules to free Belarusian asylum seekerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands one Estonian, 31 Belarusians as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsFree Belarus Museum opens new exhibition on third anniversaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyGovernment to build new pulp and paper mill in Viciebsk regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyKlaipėda terminal keeps up pressure on Lithuanian government to resume transit of Belarus’ fertilizersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: new wave of arrests targeting 2020 protestersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SportBelarusian gymnasts to rejoin international competitionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBiełavija to open new China linkThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus and Laos sign visa exemption dealThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics