Pope’s Ukraine diplomacy a political and spiritual tightrope

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis hasn’t made much of a diplomatic mark in Russia’s war in Ukraine: His appeals for a truce have gone unheeded, and his planned meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church was called off.

Francis has been seemingly unable to capitalize on his moral authority, soft power or direct line to Moscow to nudge an end to the bloodshed or at least a cease-fire.

While the long list of diplomatic dead ends would appear discouraging, it is par for the course for the Vatican’s unique brand of diplomacy.

It's a policy that straddles geopolitical realities with spiritual priorities, even when they are at odds with one another.