For the past several months, as Vladimir Putin stockpiled tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s doorstep, the world braced for war, fearing the worst yet praying that the Russian president was simply puffing out his chest and flexing his military might
The flood of support from people inside and outside Ukraine is a source of strength and hope for the people receiving aid and for the Caritas organizations coordinating efforts, said two Caritas directors from Ukraine.
Pallottine Father Vyacheslav Grynevych, director of Caritas-Spes, said
Since Russia’s assault on Ukraine began early in the morning of February 24, the world has watched in horror at this entirely unwarranted invasion. And for the average onlooker, it seems there’s nothing we can do. Mercifully, concrete action in this world
Lighting a candle near the sanctuary inside St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in East Baltimore Feb. 27, Wendy Bozel struggled to contain her emotions.
Thinking of the sons of several of her friends serving in the Ukrainian army, Bozel offered silent prayers for
Pope Francis said his heart was "broken" by the war in Ukraine, and he pleaded again, "Silence the weapons!"
"Many times, we prayed that this path would not be taken," he told people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the midday recitation of
As Russia continued its assault on Ukraine and Russian troops pressed toward the capital, Kyiv, Pope Francis left the Vatican Feb. 25 to pay a visit to the Russian ambassador to the Holy See.
The pope went to the embassy, located at the
The Russian military invasion of Ukraine began just as the intelligence community in the West said it would, with missiles targeting key military and communications posts near Ukraine’s principal cities: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa, even as far west as Lviv. Hours before this
European Catholic leaders appealed for peace and expressed alarm about the potential for "a humanitarian catastrophe" after Russia attacked Ukraine.
"In the name of God, stop now!" wrote Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius, Lithuania, president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences. Writing
As war broke out in Europe Feb. 24, with Russia's early morning attacks on various parts of Ukraine, Catholics in the U.S. joined Pope Francis in prayers for the people of the East European nation and for peace.
"We join @Pontifex in calling
As Russia fired missiles on several Ukrainian cities and Russian troops reportedly landed in Odessa, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church affirmed the right of Ukrainians to defend their homeland and assured his people that God would watch over them.
"At this