Moscow says Vatican apologised over Pope's comments about 'cruel' Russian ethnic minorities

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis attends the weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it had received an apology from the Vatican over Pope Francis' comments last month that Russian soldiers from some ethnic minority groups were the "cruellest" fighters in the Ukraine conflict.

At a briefing in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia now considered the matter closed and hoped for a constructive dialogue between Russia and the Vatican.