Vatican claims not to have changed position on Crimea

The Vatican abides by the decision of the international community and did not change its position on the Crimea and Sevastopol.

A relevant statement was made by Federico Lombardi, general director of Vatican Radio, according to Ukrainian Pravda.

In particular, he said, the Catholic Church had not set forth a political or territorial position when its representative met with the representative of the occupation authorities in Crimea.

The common practice of the Church is care for the spiritual needs of the faithful, wherever they stay. It goes without saying that it also involves issues of an administrative and technical nature, which, however, does not include development of the political or territorial positions,” Federico Lombardi said.

He noted that the Church is trying not to interfere in matters of this nature and abides by the decision of the international community.

"In regard to Ukraine, the position of the Holy See has been clearly marked and regularly outlined in public speeches and remains unchanged,” Lombardi said.

As reported, recently Bishop Jacek Pyl of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Odessa-Simferopol met with a representative of the occupation government.

“The bishop thanked Sevastopol Government for the assistance to Catholics, including in the legal registration of St. Clement parish and pastoral county in the Republic of Crimea and the city of federal significance Sevastopol,” Russian service of             Vatican Radio reported.