Contents tagged with Pope Francis

  • Ukrainian President invites Pope Francis to visit Donbas

    During his visit to the Vatican, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Pope Francis to visit Donbas, as reported by the press service of the Ukrainian President.

    Zelensky said that the pontiff is very much expected in Ukraine, where he has extremely great support and trust.

    "I invited him to Ukraine. I am sure that he will visit Ukraine - not only the capital. I said that in order to fully understand what is happening in the east, we have to visit the east of Ukraine," Zelensky said …

  • Pope welcomes prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine

    Pope Francis during the traditional Sunday sermon welcomed the release of prisoners by Russia and Ukraine, reports RIA Novosti news agency.

    "Last week a long-awaited exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine took place. I am pleased with the news about the released people who were able to hug their families, and I continue to pray for a quick end to the conflict and sustainable peace in Eastern Ukraine," he said.

    On September 7, Russia and Ukraine exchanged the prisoners according to …

  • The Pope expresses concern about the conflict in the Donbas

    On Monday, January 7, Pope Francis expressed his concern about the conflict in the east of Ukraine during the New Year's reception of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. He also added that in the conflict that has been going on for five years, “new alarming events in the Black Sea” recently occurred. However, he did not mention Russia.

    The head of the Roman Catholic Church urged adherence to a “peaceful resolution of the conflict” and called for respect for international law, …

  • Vatican says it will continue providing help to war victims in Donbas

    Holy See Representative Cardinal Peter Turkson announced that the Humanitarian Initiative of Pope Francis has gathered 16 million euros worth of assistance in two years to Ukrainians affected by the war in the Donbas. “The church sends help whenever a war like the east of Ukraine breaks out, just as we did for Syria, Iraq, and Sudan,” Hromadske.TV, quotes the Cardinal as saying.

    According to him, priority was given to the reconstruction of damaged houses and their insulation, as well as the …

  • Lithuanian President thanks the Pope for help resisting the USSR

    Pope Francis arrived in Lithuania on a state visit and met with the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė. The President thanked the head of the Catholic Church for the assistance that the Holy See provided for anti-Soviet resistance in the Baltic States, reported Grybauskaitė’s press-service.

    “The President thanked Pope for his attention to Lithuania, our history together and our fight for freedom. It is especially important that the Holy See, who never recognized the occupation of our …

  • Pope Francis wants to visit the Donbas

    The Vatican’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, who visited the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, stated that Pope Francis wants to visit the Donbas in order to meet with believers, RIA Novosti reported. “When peace is restored, and the time of brotherhood comes, the Pope will certainly find a way to come here and meet with people, but an invitation from all parties is required,” Gugerotti said.

    Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti explained that Pope Francis is unable to visit …

  • Pope Francis calls for an end to the war in Ukraine during Easter address

    Pope Francis has called for an end to the war in Ukraine and for a release of all prisoners of war in the country. He said this during his Easter message “Urbi et Orbi”, as reported by Krym.Realii with reference to Radio Vatican.

    "May the Lord of life accompany the efforts aimed to reach a final overcoming of the war in Ukraine, inspiring and supporting humanitarian assistance initiatives, among which include the release of prisoners," the Pope said.

    On Sunday, Catholics around the world …