By Catholic News Agency - Catholic News Agency
Photographer: L'Osservatore Romano
Pope Francis greets pilgrims from the Ukraine at the general audience in Paul VI Audience Hall on Aug. 19, 2015.
VATICAN CITY | Expressing great sadness at the worsening situation in Ukraine, Pope Francis asked world leaders on Wednesday to “make a serious examination of conscience before God.”
Speaking at his live-streamed general audience on Feb. 23, 2022, the pope called for people to fast for peace on March 2, Ash Wednesday, praying that “the Queen of Peace will preserve the world from the madness of war.”
“I have great pain in my heart over the worsening situation in Ukraine,” Pope Francis said in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. “Despite the diplomatic efforts over the past few weeks, increasingly alarming scenarios are opening up. Like me, many people throughout the world are feeling anguish and concern. Once again the peace of all is threatened by partisan interests.”
“I would like all those who have the political responsibility to make a serious examination of conscience before God, who is the God of peace and not of war,” the pope said. “He wants us to be brothers and not enemies. I pray that all parties involved will refrain from any action that will cause even more suffering for people, destabilizing coexistence among nations and undermining international law.”
The pope’s comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a televised address on Feb. 21 that he would recognize the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Lugansk and Donetsk as independent entities. The regions, which are run by Russian-backed separatists, include land currently held by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Photographer: Vatican Media
Pope Francis is shown here during his meeting with Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, and leader of the Ukraining Greek Catholic Church, Nov. 11, 2021.
Western countries responded to the announcement by unveiling sanctions targeting Russian banks and politicians. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called off a meeting, scheduled for Thursday, with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, saying that it served no purpose as the U.S. believes that Russia is beginning a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Indeed, early Thursday morning, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by launching missiles into the country. Nearly 3 million people live in the capital city of Kyiv, where videos capture blaring air raid sirens and long lines of traffic as citizens attempt to flee. Others took more immediate shelter in underground train stations.
The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014, focused on the east of Ukraine. The conflict has claimed more than 14,000 lives and driven 1.3 million people from their homes, according to Caritas Internationalis, a Vatican-based confederation of Catholic charities.
The warring parties agreed to a cease-fire in July 2020. But recently Russia has sent at least 150,000 troops to the Ukrainian border.
“And now, I would like to appeal to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus taught us that the diabolical evil of violence is answered with the weapons of God, with prayer and fasting,” Pope Francis said.
“I invite everyone to make next March 2, Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting for peace. I encourage believers in a special way to devote themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war.”
This is the second day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine that Pope Francis has called since the crisis began to escalate in 2022.
Pope Francis has a long-standing connection with Ukraine. During a visit to the Ukrainian Catholic community in Rome in 2018, he recalled that a Ukrainian bishop in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires had taught him when he was 12 years old how to be an altar server at Eastern Rite liturgies and read the Ukrainian alphabet.
As pope, he has consistently shown his concern for Ukrainians. In 2016, he launched a charitable project, called “The Pope for Ukraine,” that has helped more than a million people.
He presided last month over a worldwide day of prayer for peace in Ukraine.
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, has repeatedly expressed the hope that Pope Francis will visit Ukraine. The 85-year-old pope outlined ambitious travel plans for 2022 last fall but did not mention Ukraine as a possible destination.
In 2001, John Paul II became the first pope of the modern era to visit Ukraine, which borders Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus, and Russia.
Here in the U.S., Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement on Ukraine Thursday afternoon:
“On behalf of my brother bishops, I echo the Holy Father’s call for prayer and fasting to end the war in Ukraine. In times of trouble, we call on the tender mercy of God ... to guide our feet to the way of peace (Lk 1:78-79). May our prayers, joined with those of people around the world, help guide those waging war to end the meaningless suffering and restore peace. Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us.”
HOLY HOUR FOR PEACE IN CORAL GABLES
The Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables invites the community to pray for peace in Ukraine and an end to all military hostilities in Europe during their regularly scheduled holy hour this Saturday, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Confessions will be heard and Father Manny Alvarez, Little Flower's pastor, will impart benediction at 10 a.m. with special prayers for Ukraine and its people. The church is located at 2711 Indian Mound Trail.
