Ukraine Summons Archbishop, Says 'Heart Is Torn' After Pope Francis Called Darya Dugina 'Innocent'

Ukraine on Thursday summoned the Apostolic Nuncio to express their disappointment over Pope Francis' remark the day before wherein he referred to Russian propagandist and daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally an "innocent" victim of the war.

Speaking at a joint briefing, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said the ministry has already invited Archbishop Viscaldas Kulbokas to its office to express their disappointment in the pontiff's statement.

"We carefully studied the full quote of Pope Francis and, first of all, decided to summon the Apostolic Nuncio to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express Ukraine's disappointment with these words," Kuleba said, as quoted by Ukrinform. "And secondly, I will say frankly that the Ukrainian heart is torn by the Pope's words. It was unfair."

Kuleba added that the nuncio had already made the visit but declined to share further details. He said they would release more information soon.

Ukraine's decision to summon the Apostolic Nuncio comes a day after Pope Francis called Dugina a "poor girl blown up by a car bomb" and referred to her as an "innocent" victim of the war during his weekly Wednesday audience at the Vatican which was attended by thousands of people.

"I think of that poor girl blown up by a bomb under her car seat in Moscow," the Pope said. "The innocent pay for war. The innocent! Let us think about this reality and say to each other: War is madness."

Dugina was killed in a car explosion near the village of Bolshiye Vyazemy in Moscow on Aug. 20. Russian authorities have accused the Ukrainian special services of planning Dugina's death and hiring an assassin to carry out the bombing. Ukrainian officials have denied the claim.

Ilya Ponomarev, a former member of Russia's State Duma, said the activist group National Republican Army (NRA) had claimed responsibility for Dugina's death.

Dugina's father is Aleksander Dugin, who is often referred to as "Putin's brain" and "spiritual guide" in the war. As a journalist, Dugina has also been vocal about her support for Russia's mission to "denazify" Ukraine.