Pope Francis said Saturday that he was considering a trip to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, after publicly criticizing the Russian invasion of its neighbor as “infantile.”

Speaking during a visit to Malta, the pontiff belittled Russian President Vladimir Putin and his attempt to seize territory from Ukraine.

“Once again, some potentate, sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, is provoking and fomenting conflicts, whereas ordinary people sense the need to build a future that, will either be shared, or not be at all,” the pope said

The remarks came after Pope Francis said he is considering an invitation made by Ukrainian political and religious authorities to visit the embattled capital of Kyiv.

“Yes, it is on the table,” the pontiff said, offering no further details.

Francis was invited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Ukraine’s Byzantine-rite Catholic Church and Ukraine’s ambassador to the Vatican, Andriy Yurash.

He has spoken on the phone with Zelensky and Shevchuk.

Since the invasion, which Russia calls a “special military operation” to demilitarize Ukraine, the pope has strongly condemned what he has called an “unjustified aggression” and denounced “atrocities.”

But he has previously referred to Russia directly in prayers, such as during a special global event for peace on March 25.

With Post wires