Pope Francis says Ukrainians suffering 'martyrdom of aggression'

Pope Francis: Pope Francis was speaking at the end of his general audience before thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis said on Wednesday that Ukrainians today were suffering from the "martyrdom of aggression" and compared the war to the "terrible genocide" of the 1930s, when Soviet leader Josef Stalin inflicted famine on the people there.

Pope Francis: Pope Francis attends the weekly general audience. (Reuters)

He was speaking at the end of his general audience before thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.