War is always a defeat. Peace to the whole world," the pope said during a visit to the French island of Corsica.As a precursor to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has repeatedly framed its invasion as an effort to reunite the two nations as "one people," relying on numerous false historical claims. In the lead-up to the invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin invoked biblical imagery, describing the two countries as a "brotherhood" and comparing their relationship to that of Cain and Abel.The pope has earned a controversial reputation in Ukraine with his earlier remarks that relativized the responsibility of Russia’s war, encouraging Ukrainians to have the "courage" to negotiate for peace.During his Sunday prayer on Dec. 8, Pope Francis called upon politicians and global leaders to bring about a ceasefire across the globe ahead of Christmas.