«The Holy See never leaves, they kick it out»

What do you have to say about Lula, once again the president of Brazil after having been tried and put in prison?

This is a paradigmatic case. The trial began with fake news in the media that built up an atmosphere favouring that Lula be put to trial. The issue of fake news involving political and social leaders is quite serious. They can destroy a person.

Lula was convicted for passive corruption, spent 580 days in prison, and he could not run for president in 2018. In 2021, the Supreme Court overturned all the sentences against him because the judge did not have the authority to conduct the trial.

I really don't know how it all ended. It seems that there was not an adequate procedure. Here you have to be careful with those who set up the scenario for the procedure, no matter what procedure. They set it up through the media in such a way that they have an effect on those who must pass judgment and decide. A trial must be as clean as possible, with first-rate courts, with no interest other than that of ensuring that there be clean justice. This case of Brazil is historic. I'm not getting involved in politics. I just speak about what happened.

You have spoken over 100 times against the war in Ukraine.

We do whatever we can. They don't listen. What is happening in Ukraine is terrifying. There is so much cruelty being deployed. This really is very serious. It is what I continue to denounce.

You try to play the role of mediator, but on both sides there are people criticising what you say.

I receive everyone here. Now Volodímir Zelenski for the third time is sending me one of his religious advisors. I remain in touch, I receive them, I help …

Do you trust there will be an end to the war in the near term?

I do not see an end in the near term because this is a global war. Let's not forget this. There are many hands stirring up the war pot. It is global. I think war is waged when an empire begins to weaken. And when there are weapons to be used, tested and sold. There is a great deal at stake.