Rome – In an extensive radio interview broadcast on Wednesday, Pope Francis called for the withdrawal of the US military and its allies Afghanistan “legitimate,” but criticized his way of carrying it out.
“From what I can see, not all contingencies were taken into account here, “he told Spanish Catholic radio station COPE.” I don’t know if there will be a review or not, but there was certainly a big deception, perhaps, on the part of the new authorities. [of Afghanistan]. I say deception, or a lot of naivete, I don’t get it. “
COPE / Carlos Herrera
The pope framed the 20-year war led by the United States in Afghanistan as an example of an outsider’s attempt to impose democracy. In doing so, he said he was quoting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom she called “one of the great figures of world democracy”. However, he unwittingly paraphrased the Russian president’s statements Vladimir Putin.
“‘We must put an end to the irresponsible policy of intervening from outside and building democracy in other countries, ignoring the traditions of the peoples.” Concise and conclusive, “the pontiff said, thinking he was quoting Merkel.” I think that says a lot; and everyone can interpret it as they please. But there I felt a wisdom in hearing this woman say that. ”
In fact, it was Putin who used very similar words when he met with Merkel during a visit by the German leader to Russia on August 20th.
In the 90-minute interview, Pope Francis also revealed new details about the July 4 abdominal surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis, a narrowing of the colon.
She said a nurse from Vatican health services “saved my life,” encouraging him to opt for surgery instead of relying on antibiotics, as some doctors had recommended.
“Certainly, these things that are born of diverticula … and who knows … they deform, they necroticize … but thank God, it was taken in time and here I am,” the pope said, revealing that M ‘ they had removed about 13 inches from the colon. The surgery forced him to be hospitalized for 11 days.
Francis also denied recent rumors in Italian media that he planned to resign, saying the thought had never crossed his mind. “Whenever a pope is sick there is always a breeze or a hurricane over a conclave,” he told COPE, referring to the secret meeting when cardinals meet to elect a new pope.
He said he had fully recovered and could eat whatever he wanted, as well as keep his schedule busy normal.
In addition to an upcoming trip to Hungary and Slovakia in September, he also confirmed that he would attend the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) in Scotland in November, as well as travel to Greece, Cyprus and Malta in the future. close.