Crash Course: Russia's holy war: Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis, the Virgin Mary and the fate of Ukraine

Putin's war is unleashing bizarre religious divisions — and for some Catholics it's the fulfillment of prophecy Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Russia's holy war: Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis, the Virgin Mary and the fate of Ukraine On Friday evening in Rome, a century-old prophecy was fulfilled, at least in the eyes of some Catholics. At the Vatican, Pope Francis led a [prayer for peace](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RuaHR0cHM6Ly9hcG5ld3MuY29tL2FydGljbGUvcnVzc2lhLXVrcmFpbmUtcG9wZS1mcmFuY2lzLXByYXllci1ldXJvcGUtcG9ydHVnYWwtNzIzZDZiODQ2ZDRjM2U1MzVjYmIzMjFkZTc5MzA0YjhXA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) in Ukraine, along with a call to free the world "from the menace of nuclear weapons" and a request for forgiveness for humanity having "forgotten the lessons learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two World Wars." That's not a surprising appeal from a religious leader who has spent weeks trying to intercede in the bloody war underway in Eastern Europe. More specifically though, the pope's prayer consecrates Ukraine and Russia "to the Immaculate Heart of Mary" — a reference to the purported apparition of the Virgin Mary before three Portuguese children in 1917, which has become a touchstone to many conservative Catholics ever since. [Read the rest from Kathryn Joyce](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvaG9seS13YXItdmxhZGltaXItcHV0aW4tcG9wZS1mcmFuY2lzLXRoZS12aXJnaW4tbWFyeS1hbmQtdGhlLWZhdGUtb2YtdWtyYWluZS9XA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Getty Images/Yulia-B) Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died doing what he loved (touring the world with his band) Taylor Hawkins, the longtime drummer for the band [Foo Fighters](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTYvMDIvMjkvdGhlX29zY2Fyc19oYXZlX2FfZGF2ZV9ncm9obF9wcm9ibGVtX2FfZmFtb3VzX3N0cmFpZ2h0X3doaXRlX2d1eV9ldmVyeW9uZV9saWtlc19jYW5fYWx3YXlzX2ZpbmRfaGlzX3dheV9vbl9zdGFnZS9XA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), died on Friday night. No cause of death has been given for Hawkins at the time of this post. The band that Hawkins was a beloved and integral part of issued issued a statement on Friday confirming their bandmate's death. The statement came just prior to the band's scheduled show in Bogotá for the Festival Estereo Picnic, which they ultimately had to pull out of. [Read the rest from Kelly McClure.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvZm9vLWZpZ2h0ZXJzLWRydW1tZXItdGF5bG9yLWhhd2tpbnMtZG9pbmctd2hhdC1oZS1sb3ZlZC9XA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (Photo by Paul Rovere/The Age/Fairfax Media via Getty Images) - The must-see "[Pachinko](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvcGFjaGlua28tcmV2aWV3LWFwcGxlLXR2L1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" is a pure and flawless beauty about the unpredictability of living - The brain's tendency to [see faces that aren't there](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvcGFyZWlkb2xpYS1yZWxpZ2lvdXMtZXhwZXJpZW5jZXMvVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) may be innate to spiritual experiences - Szechuan Sauce, the [cult-favorite condiment](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvc3plY2h1YW4tc2F1Y2UtdGhlLWZhdm9yaXRlLWNvbmRpbWVudC1vZi1yaWNrLWFuZC1tb3J0eS1mYW5zLXJldHVybnMtdG8tbWNkb25hbGRzL1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) of "Rick and Morty" fans, returns to McDonald's - Women [prohibited from flying without male "guardian"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvd29tZW4tcHJvaGliaXRlZC1mcm9tLWZseWluZy13aXRob3V0LW1hbGUtZ3VhcmRpYW4taW4tYWZnaGFuaXN0YW4vVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) in Afghanistan - The best and absolute worst [onscreen first periods](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvYmVzdC1wZXJpb2QtbW92aWVzLXR2LW1lbnN0cnVhdGlvbi1jYXJyaWUtdHVybmluZy1yZWQvVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), from "Carrie" to "Turning Red" - [Elton John at 75](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvZWx0b24tam9obi1hdC03NS1pc250LXdpbmRpbmctZG93bi1idXQtYnVveWVkLWJ5LWhpcy1tdXNpY2FsLWN1cmlvc2l0eS1hbmQtb3Blbi1taW5kZWRuZXNzL1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) isn't winding down, but buoyed by his musical curiosity and open-mindedness - Celebrating [Benedict Cumberbatch](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvYmVuZWRpY3QtY3VtYmVyYmF0Y2gtYmVzdC1yb2xlcy1nZW5pdXMtbWlzZml0L1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)'s best movie misfits - Why Republican cries about [Robert Bork](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvd2h5LWNyaWVzLWFib3V0LXJvYmVydC1ib3JrLXN0aWxsLXJpbmctaG9sbG93L1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) still ring hollow Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. Western embargoes of Russian gas offer a real shot at a post-carbon future The Russian invasion of the Ukraine has morphed into a [brutal, bitter slog](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0QraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1EWEJkVzlZSDRFY1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) of a ground war; yet as Russia refuses to engage in serious cease fire talks, prospects for a quick military outcome fade. In such a stalemate, [economic weapons](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0Q3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMTAvZG1pdHJ5LXBlc2tvdl9wYXJ0bmVyL1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) mobilized on both sides become decisive. Western [economic sanctions](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0Q3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMTAvZG1pdHJ5LXBlc2tvdl9wYXJ0bmVyL1cDc3BjQgpiPsFDQGIH3L8FUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), which have so far cost the ruble 90% of its value, are [pitted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMjQvYmlkZW4tcHJvbWlzZXMtcHVuaXNoaW5nLXNhbmN0aW9ucy1vbi1ydXNzaWEtc3RvcHMtc2hvcnQtb2YtcHV0aW4vVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) against [cut-offs](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMDkvcGFuaWMtb3Zlci1zcGlrZS1pbi1lbmVyZ3ktcHJpY2VzLXJldmVhbHMtaG93LXVucHJlcGFyZWQtYW1lcmljYW5zLWFyZS1mb3ItYS1nYXNsZXNzLWZ1dHVyZS9XA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) of Russian oil and gas — a threat which has already [raised gasoline above $6 in California](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMDkvcGFuaWMtb3Zlci1zcGlrZS1pbi1lbmVyZ3ktcHJpY2VzLXJldmVhbHMtaG93LXVucHJlcGFyZWQtYW1lcmljYW5zLWFyZS1mb3ItYS1nYXNsZXNzLWZ1dHVyZS9XA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) and [quadrupled the cost of heating](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0QzaHR0cHM6Ly90aW1lLmNvbS82MTQ5OTg5L2VuZXJneS1wcmljZXMtdWtyYWluZS1vaWwvVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) in much of Europe. Both sides are hurting. [Read the rest from Carl Pope](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjUvd2VzdGVybi1lbWJhcmdvZXMtb2YtcnVzc2lhbi1nYXMtb2ZmZXItYS1yZWFsLXNob3QtYXQtYS1wb3N0LWNhcmJvbi1mdXR1cmUvVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). (Yuri Smityuk\TASS via Getty Images) - "How Wellness Influencers Became Cheerleaders for Putin’s War," [Mother Jones](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubW90aGVyam9uZXMuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzLzIwMjIvMDMvaG93LXdlbGxuZXNzLWluZmx1ZW5jZXJzLWJlY2FtZS1jaGVlcmxlYWRlcnMtZm9yLXB1dGlucy13YXIvVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Should We Reform the Court?" [The New York Review](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnlib29rcy5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZXMvMjAyMi8wNC8wNy9zaG91bGQtd2UtcmVmb3JtLXRoZS1jb3VydC1zdXByZW1lLWNvdXJ0LWxpbmRhLWdyZWVuaG91c2UvVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "How Does Language During Sex Translate Across Cultures?" [LitHub](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0RKaHR0cHM6Ly9saXRodWIuY29tL2hvdy1kb2VzLWxhbmd1YWdlLWR1cmluZy1zZXgtdHJhbnNsYXRlLWFjcm9zcy1jdWx0dXJlcy9XA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Women Writers Need to Be “Hot” Now. And It’s Not Great. (Give Me A Break)" [Slate](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0R0aHR0cHM6Ly9zbGF0ZS5jb20vdGVjaG5vbG9neS8yMDIyLzAzL2RlYmF0ZS1vdmVyLXdvbWVuLWluLWpvdXJuYWxpc20tYW5kLWluZmx1ZW5jaW5nLmh0bWw_dmlhPXJzc19zb2NpYWxmbG93X3R3aXR0ZXJXA3NwY0IKYj7BQ0BiB9y_BVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Microplastics are so insidious that they have made it into the human bloodstream, study finds A new study reveals that more than [three out of four people](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkIsi-P0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDMvMjYvbWljcm9wbGFzdGljcy1hcmUtc28taW5zaWRpb3VzLXRoYXQtdGhleS1oYXZlLW1hZGUtaXQtaW50by10aGUtaHVtYW4tYmxvb2RzdHJlYW0tc3R1ZHktZmluZHMvVwNzcGNCCmI-wUNAYgfcvwVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) may have microplastics in their blood. 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