Pope marks a thousand days of war in Ukraine, a ‘shameful disaster’, calls for weapons to give ‘way to dialogue’
The pontiff read a letter from a young Ukrainian university student at the general audience. In it, the young man laments “too many deaths”, noting that “only love, faith, and hope give real meaning to our wounds.” The Vatican will host the World Meeting on Children's Rights on 3 February 2025. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati will be proclaimed saints in next year’s jubilee. The pontiff met with an Iranian delegation for interreligious dialogue. He said that the Church in the Mideastern country is “a small flock”, stressing that religious freedom is the “cornerstone of the entire edifice of human rights.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Today marks one thousand days since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After sending a letter sent to Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, apostolic nuncio in Kyiv, Pope Francis remembered this “tragic anniversary for the victims and for the destruction it caused" at today's general audience.
Speaking to the faithful in St Peter's Square under a light Roman rain, the pontiff said that the war at the gates of Europe is "a shameful disaster for all humanity."
The huge suffering it is causing must not dissuade us from standing by the "tormented Ukrainian people", as well as "from imploring peace and working so that weapons give way to dialogue and confrontation to encounter".
In the letter to the nuncio, Francis expressed hope that prayer “may convert hearts and enable them (the warring parties) to initiate paths of dialogue, reconciliation and harmony.”
Speaking to the pilgrims present in Rome, Francis read a passage from a letter received from a young Ukrainian university student. In it, the young man asks that the faith of the Ukrainian people be remembered, not only their suffering.
“Although it is imperfect, that does not diminish its value, because it paints, with painful strokes, a portrait of the Resurrected Christ,” reads the letter.
The young man who wrote to the Pope also stressed the greatest suffering war brings, namely the loss of loved ones.
“There have been too many deaths in my life recently. It is difficult to live in a city where a missile kills and wounds dozens of civilians, and you are witness to so many tears,” he goes on to say.
Yet, despite the despair, faith remains an inexhaustible source of hope. “I thank God because, through this pain, I am learning greater love. Pain is not only a road to anger and despair; if based on faith, it is a good teacher of love [. . .] because only love, faith, and hope [can] give real meaning to our wounds.”
These words were followed by an applause.
At the end of the audience, in which the pontiff greeted Italian-speaking pilgrims, he also mentioned the 35th Children’s Day,[*] which falls today.
“On 3 February, the World Meeting on Children's Rights will take place here in the Vatican, entitled ‘Love Them and Protect Them’,” Francis announced. “The event will be attended by experts and leading figures from many countries.”
This day “will be an opportunity to identify new ways to rescue and protect millions of children still without rights who live in precarious conditions. They are exploited and abused and suffer the tragic consequences of wars," Francis lamented.
The pope greeted the group of boys and girls involved in this initiative, the latter greeting and hugging him in St Peter’s Square, showing affection, in what was an impromptu act, appreciated by those present.
The pope also made another announcement. “Next year on the Day of the Rights of Children and Adolescents I will canonise Blessed Carlo Acutis. On Youth Day, I will canonise Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.” These two highly anticipated events sparked several ovations from the faithful in St Peter's.
The proclamation of the new saints – Acutis (1991-2006), the first "millennial", and Frassati (1901-1925), one of the social saints in the city of Turin – will be important moments in the 2025 Holy Year.
Today's catechesis, continuing the cycle on the Holy Spirit, was centred on “The Spirit of the Bride. Charisms, gifts of the Spirit for the common good”. For Francis, “The laity are not merely collaborators or auxiliary troops for the clergy; no, they have their own charisms and gifts with which to contribute to the mission of the Church” (for the pope’s reflection, click here).
Pope Francis’s day began by receiving in audience the participants at the 12th Colloquium of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue with the Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Tehran.
"This collaboration goes back a long way, which we should all welcome, because it is in favour of a culture of dialogue, a fundamental theme," he told the participants.
Francis mentioned the archbishop of Tehran-Ispahan, "a good friar!", who will be created cardinal next month. “This choice, which expresses closeness and concern for the Church in Iran, also favourably reflects upon the entire country. It is an honour for the entire country. The fate of the Catholic Church in Iran, a small flock, is very close to my heart."
Pope Francis emphasised the difficult situation in which Christians in Iran live, stating that "the Church is not against the government; no, these are lies!"
He stressed the value of family settings as a “privileged place of interreligious dialogue".
In addition, Francis spoke about freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, which are "the cornerstone of the entire edifice of human rights."
“Religious freedom is not limited to the exercise of freedom of worship, but allows one to be totally free to decide in the area of one's own religious belief and practice."
Speaking about the tensions in the Middle East, he focused on the risk of a nuclear war.
"Today, in the newspapers there is this latest threat. This situation impels us, believers in the God of peace, to pray and work for dialogue, reconciliation, peace, security, and the integral development of all humanity.”
This indispensable commitment “will make us credible in the eyes of the world and above all to future generations.”
[*] In Italy, it is called National Day of the Rights of Children and Adolescents.
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