We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Pope Francis Calls for Month of Prayer Dedicated to Peace in Ukraine
FREE Catholic Classes
In a heartfelt response to a plea from Ukrainian Bishops, Pope Francis has called for a month-long period of dedicated prayer, seeking peace, reconciliation, and an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Pope made this impassioned call during a meeting with the Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who were gathered for their annual Synod in Rome.
Photo credit: Max Kukurudziak
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk began the meeting by drawing attention to the tragic and dire situation in Ukraine. He emphasized the rising toll of casualties, including the growing numbers of deceased, wounded, and tortured individuals, while expressing gratitude for the Pope's unwavering support and affection.
The Holy See Press Office released a statement detailing the meeting, noting that several bishops shared their firsthand accounts of the harrowing suffering endured by the Ukrainian people, each in their own unique circumstances.
Pope Francis, deeply moved by their testimonies, listened attentively and offered his own heartfelt responses. He conveyed his profound sense of closeness and solidarity with the Ukrainian people, highlighting the tragic "dimension of martyrdom" often overlooked by the world, where people have been subjected to cruelty and criminality.
The Pontiff also shared his sorrow over the overwhelming feeling of helplessness that war has brought upon the Ukrainian population, attributing this despair to the destructive influence of "the devil, who desires to destroy."
Pope Francis directed his thoughts to the Ukrainian children he has encountered during his pontificate. He lamented the loss of their innocence and the disappearance of their smiles, emphasizing that one of the grievous outcomes of war is the robbing of children's joy and laughter.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting, Pope Francis drew inspiration from the example set by Jesus during His Passion. He reminded the assembly that Jesus did not succumb to victimization, insults, torture, or crucifixion but instead bore witness to the courage to speak the truth and remained close to the suffering, preventing them from falling into despair.
"This is not an easy path," the Pope acknowledged, "but it is the path of holiness that people aspire to, wanting us to be saints and guides who follow the teachings of Jesus."
In a touching gesture of his continued commitment, Pope Francis revealed that he includes the Ukrainian people in his daily prayers before the icon of the Virgin Mary, a precious gift presented to him by Major Archbishop Shevchuk during his earlier years in Buenos Aires.
As the world faces the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Pope Francis' call for a month of dedicated prayer for peace and reconciliation stands as a testament to his unwavering support for the Ukrainian people, a plea for an end to their suffering, and a fervent desire for lasting peace in the region.
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Chaplain Reveals Unrest at Columbia University Caused by Communists
-
Discovering Who We Are: God's Truth in Scripture
-
Pope Francis Advises Parish Priests on Fostering a Missionary Church
-
5 Reasons Going To Church Is Important (even on days you feel like you can skip)
-
U.S. Catholic Parishes Experience Resurgence of Traditional Practices
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- St. Florian: Saint of the Day for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- The Universal Prayer (attributed to Pope Clement Xi): Prayer of the Day for Saturday, May 04, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, May 03, 2024
- St. James the Lesser: Saint of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
- Prayer before Starting on a Journey: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 03, 2024
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.