As the 2025 Jubilee entered its second month, Pope Francis has made an effort to work for peace, looking at the issue of Ukraine. Source: Crux.
The election of US President Donald Trump has highlighted the issue, since Mr Trump has promised to bring an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has been making slow advances in Ukraine, but is suffering huge casualties, as are the Ukrainians.
Francis held a surprise video conference with young Ukrainians on Saturday, responding to questions from young people living in Ukraine and those who are now livingin in different countries.
At the beginning of the meeting, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said, “This is probably the first time that Ukrainian youth have had the opportunity to communicate in this way with the Holy Father”.
Francis used the time to urge the work for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
“War always destroys,” the Pope said.
“The remedy is dialogue: Always, among ourselves, even with those who oppose us. Please, never grow tired of dialogue. Peace is built through dialogue. It is true that sometimes dialogue is impossible due to the stubbornness of some, but we must always make the effort,” he added.
“Life today is devalued. Money and war positions are given more importance than human life itself,” the Pope said.
His meeting highlighted Francis’s longstanding call for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia.
The election of Mr Trump – and the slow advance of Russia into Ukraine – has highlighted the Pope’s call for an end to the conflict.
On Saturday, Francis told the Ukrainian young people that he understands ending the conflict is not an easy thing for them to do, but urged them to support peace.
He concluded with a message of perseverance: “We have all made mistakes, but when one falls, they must get back up and keep moving forward. Do not be afraid! Take risks, and if you fall, do not stay down.”
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Pope Francis urges peace in Ukraine during 2025 Jubilee (By Charles Collins, Crux)
