During World War II, the Catholic Church came under fire for not doing more to oppose Nazi Germany, Italian Fascism and the aggression both totalitarian regimes launched across Europe and Africa. Pope Francis has done much to restore the prestige of Catholicism in the world. But when calling upon Ukraine to “embrace the courage of the white flag,” he risks pulling his church to the wrong side of history once again.

I was born Catholic and raised Catholic. Though I am now a Protestant, my parents are still members, and fans of the current pope. I’ve seen the reform and energy and spirit Pope Francis has brought to his faith, after years when the Catholic Church fell well short of its ideals.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in Georgia. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu. His Twitter account is @JohnTures2.