Pope Francis and the “Peace Algorithm”

By Leonid Sevastianov

Pope Francis in 2019, before the Ukraine war, meeting with Leonid Sevastianov and his wife, Russian opera singer Svetlana Kasyan

Leonid Sevastianov, 46, is a leadeer of the “Old Believers” in Russia, a Russian Orthodox religious community which maintains liturgical rites in their pre-1660s form. Sevastianov, husband of international opera star Svetlana Kasyan, is a friend of Pope Francis and has acted as a sort of “unofficial mediator’ between the Pope and Russian officials. He and his wife have met in Moscow and Rome with the editors of Inside the Vatican. Sevastianov wrote the text below  

Today, the world faces unprecedented challenges, including the crisis within international institutions established in the wake of World War II. Organizations like the United Nations have lost their efficacy in influencing global dynamics. The UN’s inability to reform itself and the absence of consensus-building mechanisms within the Security Council leave it struggling to resolve both political and humanitarian crises.

At a time when traditional international bodies seem unable to offer sustainable solutions, a new mediator figure is needed — one with international credibility and the unique ability to bridge divides across deeply opposed perspectives.

Pope Francis embodies this potential. As a figure who transcends religious and cultural boundaries, he offers an alternative approach known as the “peace algorithm,” which pursues peace not through military victories but by creating conditions in which all parties feel they have won.

The Peace Algorithm: Unity Rooted in Shared Values and Cultural Heritage

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Pope Francis has advocated for a “peace algorithm” based on finding solutions that bring together opposing sides and enable peaceful coexistence. His vision seeks not to identify a “strongest” winner but rather to construct a shared space of mutual respect and stability. For Pope Francis, true victory lies in cooperative projects and dialogue, aimed at facing the immense challenges of our time, such as climate change and space exploration.

Rome’s Historical and Cultural Role as a Unifier

Pope Francis draws inspiration from the legacy of ancient Rome — Pax Romana, a period of peaceful coexistence that once unified diverse cultures. Europe, Russia, America, and Asia share Rome’s cultural heritage. By revisiting this archetypal unity, the Pope suggests rethinking Rome’s role as a symbol of global reconciliation. With the secularization that has separated politics from religion, the principle of “Cuius regio, eius religio” no longer applies. Rome’s historical value as a symbol for the unity of nations remains intact, however, not through religious identity but through shared cultural and historical roots.

The Vatican as a Neutral Ground for Dialogue

Since its establishment as a modern entity in 1929, the Vatican has adhered strictly to neutrality in international relations. This commitment is embodied by figures like Pope John Paul II, who condemned the Iraq War and attempted to mediate between Saddam Hussein and the United States, and Pope Benedict XVI, who criticized the war in Libya.

Pope Francis continues this mission by engaging with leaders around the globe, including Erdogan and Modi, while fostering respectful relationships with both China and Russia. In a time of political polarization, the Vatican’s neutrality allows it to be perceived as a unique symbol of peace and a reliable mediator.

A Peace Plan for Ukraine: Toward Reconciliation

The Vatican’s recent peace proposal for Ukraine includes several critical measures:

The repatriation of children under international supervision, underscoring the humanitarian aspect of the conflict.

A reciprocal exchange of prisoners of war, with commitments to keep these individuals out of combat.

An amnesty for those convicted of criticizing authorities on either side, reinforcing the importance of freedom of expression.

The lifting of sanctions against relatives of Russian oligarchs as a gesture of goodwill.

These measures aim to create an atmosphere of trust, laying a foundation for further progress toward peace.

A New Global Order: An Independent Platform for Dialogue

Pope Francis has proposed creating an independent, neutral platform for resolving international conflicts, positioning the Vatican as a hub for dialogue. In a world where genuinely neutral states are increasingly rare, the Vatican remains a credible and neutral entity. This unique status offers a chance to foster a new world order focused on sustainable peace and the prevention of revanchism.

Conclusion: A Global Vision for Unity and Justice

Pope Francis’s peace algorithm is a path toward fair coexistence, rooted in cultural values and historical respect. In a world where the separation of religion and politics is often complete, the Vatican as a symbolic center of Rome could become a new unifying force. This approach sees compromise as a key to stability, where each party feels victorious.

To bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end and achieve a just peace, we must consider broadening Pope Francis’s mandate by recognizing him as an essential mediator between all sides of the conflict. The Vatican, and Pope Francis himself, have no vested interest in prolonging the conflict. They seek only peace and reconciliation. Endowed with such a mandate, Pope Francis could propose an effective, just solution capable of halting suffering and restoring stability. Strengthening his role is a critical step toward achieving a genuine and lasting peace, as his unique position of neutrality and independence could indeed be the decisive factor for securing stability in a fragile world.

Head of Ukrainian Catholic Church: “No request for Vatican mediation has been made”

Pope Francis meets with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church (photo-Grzegorz Galazka)

In his Christmas Urbi et Orbi message, Pope Francis called for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Pope said “boldness [was] needed to open the door” to dialogue “in order to achieve a just and lasting peace” between the two sides.

Speaking to thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square, the 88-year-old Pope declared: “May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine,” and beyond. “I invite every individual, and all people of all nations… to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions,” he said.

Just one day before, in a December 24 interview with RBC-Ukraine, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), clarified that the Vatican is not currently mediating between Ukraine and Russia because no such request has been made:

RBC-Ukraine: In your opinion, can the Vatican act as a mediator in potential peace negotiations, that is, not only on the issue of the release of prisoners, the exchange, the release of children, but also in more global political matters?

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk: This issue is before me personally, I have been working on it since 2014. That is, almost 10 years. Since the occupation of Crimea, our Donbas, began, because the war has been going on for not three years, but much longer.

And today I can, or rather, I must say that such mediation is not taking place. Because there are certain conditions. Mediation is a certain diplomatic mechanism that has certain prerequisites.

I remember, the head of papal diplomacy, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, immediately outlined what the conditions were. First, both sides had to agree to it and had to ask. And next, they had to be ready to implement certain recommendations that the mediation would offer.

At the moment, none of those conditions exist. And over the past year, we have seen and heard so many mediators… Someone even called the Prime Minister of India, perhaps, among the most successful mediators. Now the political situation after the US elections has changed everything again.

The Vatican is not performing any mediation mission and no one has asked for such a mission. Even from the other side, there was a sharp statement from our president [Zelensky], who said that we don’t need mediators, we need allies. And to this question, too, there was a very serious reaction from the Vatican: well, let’s think about where, in the plan for the victory of the President, the Vatican can be an ally.

And it is precisely the humanitarian part of this plan, then called “President Zelensky’s peace formula,” that the Vatican chose that part of this peace formula that somewhere falls under the competence of the Church, which is a subject of international law. And here the Holy See is very methodically and consistently trying to do what it can for the benefit of Ukraine.

—ITV staff/RBC-Ukraine