Pope says he cannot visit Kyiv or Moscow soon due to knee problem

Pope Francis attends the mass to beatify Pope John Paul I in St. Peter's Square, Vatican, 4 September, 2022.

Pope Francis won't be able visit Moscow or Kyiv until after a meeting of religious leaders in Kazakhstan 13-15 September. This was due to Pope Francis's doctor's orders.

Francis was interviewed by the channel's webmaster about his plans to visit Russia and Ukraine following his recent trip in Canada. He also discussed his previous plans to promote dialogue between the two countries.

Francis said: "Now, I can't go because there's been a setback with my knee recovery after the trip to Canada and the doctor prohibited it. He said, 'Before Kazakhstan, you cannot travel.'

"But I have been keeping contact over the phone... There is something that could be done among all of us. I am following the situation with my pain and prayers. He said that the situation was really tragic.

"I believe that dialogue is the best way to move forward."

In July, Francis spoke out to Reuters to say he would like to visit Kyiv, but also wants to travel to Moscow to promote peace.

He said that he had suffered a "small fracture" in his knee from a misstep, while a ligament was injured.

Francis will be visiting Nur-Sultan, Kazakh capital, to attend the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

Francis implicitly accuses Russia of "armed conquest and expansionism" in Ukraine.

Recently, the Vatican had to call out Francis's condemnations of the war in Ukraine to repair strained relations. He referred to Darya Dugina (a Russian ultra-nationalist) as an innocent victim after he was attacked by a car bomb in Moscow.