“The cardinal conveyed Pope Francis’ deep concern about the ongoing war in Ukraine and reaffirmed what the pope said last Sunday at the Angelus,” it said.
“In particular, he reiterated his call for an end to armed attacks, for the securing of humanitarian corridors for civilians and relief workers, and for the replacement of the violence of weapons with negotiation.”
“In this sense, finally, the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Holy See’s willingness ‘to do everything, to put itself at the service of this peace.’”
The U.N. refugee agency reported on March 8 that more than two million people have fled Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion on Feb. 24.
“Today Ukraine is once more in a situation where millions of people are on the move, when our women and children are forced to leave their homes,” the major archbishop commented.
“And the Church is and shall be with its people. She will be where it is most difficult. She will be where our presence is most needed, in order to embrace these people, to serve them, to ease their suffering from this war.”
Shevchuk expressed gratitude to the Catholics of Moldova, Ukraine’s small neighbor, for helping Ukrainian refugees. According to the U.N., Moldova had received almost 83,000 people from Ukraine as of March 6.
“Thank you to all those who today open their embrace before the victims of Russian aggression,” the major archbishop said, appealing for prayers for his homeland.
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