“With this letter, which I address to you as my representative in the beloved and martyred Ukraine, I wish to embrace all its citizens, wherever they may be. » In a letter addressed to the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Mgr Visvaldas Kulbokas, and published by L'Osservatore Romano Tuesday, November 19, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the Ukrainians who are commemorating the thousand days of “large-scale military aggression” of Russia.
“I know well that no human words can protect their lives from the daily bombardments, nor console those who mourn the dead, nor heal the wounded, nor repatriate the children, nor free the prisoners, nor alleviate the harsh effects of winter , nor restore justice and peacewrites the pope. And it is this word – peace – unfortunately forgotten by today's world, that we would like to hear resonate in the families, homes and squares of dear Ukraine. »
“Unfortunately, at least for the moment, this is not the casedeplores François. My words are not meant to be mere words”continues the Pope, ” more (…) a sincere invocation to God »in the hope that he “converts hearts and makes them capable of beginning paths of dialogue, reconciliation and harmony”.
Several unsuccessful diplomatic attempts
Recalling the daily minute of silence observed at nine o'clock throughout Ukraine in memory of the victims of the conflict which has ravaged the country for more than two years, the Pope indicates that he unites with its inhabitants “so that the cry that rises to heaven, from where help comes, may be louder”so that this “terrible tragedy” and as the military situation worsens on the ground for the kyiv army.
At the beginning of October, the Pope received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the third time at the Vatican. The latter then renewed his call to help repatriate Ukrainians captive in Russia, particularly children, an area on which the Holy See is actively working.
Despite attempts at mediation initiated by papal diplomacy, no solution to the conflict has yet been found. Earlier this year, a statement from Pope Francis calling on Ukraine to “raise the white flag” and to ” negotiate “ to end the war had caused a diplomatic crisis with kyiv.
