The people of the Internet have just now raised Pope Francis in their crosshairs

It seems that the wrath of the liberal mob does not spare the Pope either.

Politico reported .

Never give up this heritage, you are the heirs of the great Mother Russia, move forward with it"

said Pope Francis to the young people gathered at the All-Russia meeting of Catholic youth in St. Petersburg on Friday. According to the article, during the speech, the Pope summoned Peter I and II. Catherine also included former Russian emperors, two rulers who played a key role in expanding Russia's European conquests and who are known as symbols of Russian imperialism.

 "Be artists of peace" 

"You are the heirs of great Russia: the great Russia of saints, kings, Peter the Great and II. They are the heirs of Catherine's great Russia, the great enlightened Russian empire, great culture and great humanity," he said. The comments sparked outrage online,

many criticized the Pope's decision to praise Russia's imperialist past,

especially considering the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.

However, in the rest of his address, published online by the Vatican, the pope tells Russian youth to be "artists of peace" and "sow seeds of reconciliation."

Featured image: AFP/Alberto Pizzoli