Pope visits Russian embassy to ‘express concern’ about Ukraine invasion

Pope Francis (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis has gone to the Russian embassy to “express his concern about the war” in Ukraine – an extraordinary gesture that came on the day the Vatican announced he was cancelling other upcoming events because of a flare-up of his knee pain.

Popes usually receive ambassadors and heads of state in the Vatican, and diplomatic protocol would have called for the Vatican foreign minister to summon the ambassador to him.