Pope Francis has chided Russia for the "brutality" shown by its troops in the war it launched against Ukraine, which has been "brave" in its fight to defend itself.
"What we are seeing is the brutality and ferocity with which this war is being carried out by the troops, generally mercenaries, used by the Russians," the pontiff said in a talk with Jesuit media members, which took place last month and was published on June 14.
Francis told the journalists -- all of whom were from Europe -- that it appeared Russia thought the war would be over in a week, "but they miscalculated."
"They encountered a brave people, a people who are struggling to survive and who have a history of struggle," he said.
Nonetheless, the 85-year-old pontiff said some diplomats understood there were signs that a conflict was looming on the horizon.
He recalled one head of state told him months before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24 that the NATO military alliance was "barking at the gates of Russia," which could be interpreted as a provocation, especially by Moscow, which "will allow no foreign power to approach."
"But the danger is that we only see this, which is monstrous, and we do not see the whole drama unfolding behind this war, which was perhaps somehow either provoked or not prevented. And note the interest in testing and selling weapons. It is very sad, but at the end of the day that is what is at stake," he added.
The pope quickly followed the comments up by asking himself rhetorically if that made him "pro-Putin?"
"No, I am not. It would be simplistic and wrong to say such a thing."