Amid Russia’s war on Ukraine, the faith of Ukrainians is being “sorely tested,” but God “will have the last word, and life will conquer death,” Pope Leo XIV said at the weekend. Source: OSV News.
The Pope addressed Ukrainian Greek Catholics who were in Rome for a Jubilee Year pilgrimage to the tomb of St Peter, which included Divine Liturgies at both St Peter’s Basilica and at the Ukrainian Cathedral of Santa Sophia.
Ahead of Saturday’s liturgy, pilgrims – led by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, father and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church – processed through the Holy Door.
Speaking to the pilgrims on Saturday at St Peter’s, the Pope said the pilgrimage was “a sign of the desire to renew the faith, to strengthen the bond and the communion with the Bishop of Rome, and to bear witness to the hope that does not disappoint”, since it is born of Christ’s love and infused by the Holy Spirit.
“The Jubilee calls us to become pilgrims of this hope in our entire life, despite the adversities of the current moment,” Pope Leo said.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues aggression launched in 2014, and has been declared a genocide in two joint reports by the New Lines Institute and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
“I would like to express my closeness to tormented Ukraine, to the children, the young people, the elderly and, in a special way, to the families who mourn their loved ones,” Pope Leo said.
“I share your sorrow for the prisoners and victims of this senseless war. I entrust to the Lord your intentions, your daily hardships and tragedies, and above all, the desires for peace and serenity.”
Russia’s war on Ukraine has challenged the faith of many, the Pope said. He also welcomed and blessed several mothers of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
“Many of you, since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine began, have surely asked: ‘Lord, why all this? Where are you? What must we do to save our families, our homes and our homeland?’” he said.
Yet, he added, “To believe does not mean to have all the answers, but to trust that God is with us and gives us His grace, that He will have the last word, and life will conquer death.”
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Pope to Ukrainian Greek Catholics: ‘God will have the last word,’ ‘life will conquer death’ (By Gina Christian, OSV News)
