Pope Francis in a letter to UGCC Primate His Beatitude Sviatoslav regarding Russia’s mass strikes on Ukraine on December 29, 2023 and January 2, 2024, called Russia’s actions “unworthy and unacceptable”, and emphasized that such actions “cannot be justified in any way.”
As reported by the UGCC Information Department with reference to the Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome, the pontiff sent a letter in response to that of the UGCC Head dated December 29 last year, in which he informed the Pope about the tragic aftermath of Russia’s largest missile attack across Ukraine.
“Once again, through your person, I would like to express my closeness to the ‘long-suffering Ukraine’, mourn the dead and trust them in God’s mercy, comfort the wounded, and embrace those who are suffering in any way. I am close to the Pastors who are trying to give hope to people in a ‘situation that seems increasingly hopeless,’” reads Pope Francis’ letter.
“Together with you, I share the same feelings of contempt and pain that you feel in the face of hostilities, which, having hit the civilian population and the civil infrastructure of the entire country, are unworthy and unacceptable and cannot be justified in any way,” he assured His Beatitude Svyatoslav.
Pope Francis considers it extremely dangerous that “against the background of dramatic international events, there is a risk that the war in Ukraine could become a ‘forgotten’ war.” Therefore, “our duty is to do everything to ensure that this war is not shrouded in silence – not only to be horrified by the tragic facts, but above all to force all those responsible and the international community to find peaceful solutions,” the Holy Father emphasized.
In his letter, Pope Francis recalled that he seizes every opportunity so that the war in Ukraine does not become “forgotten”. “In today’s general audience [January 3, 2024 — Ed.] I urged not to forget nations where there is war, recalling that ‘war is madness, war is always a loss. Let’s pray. Let’s pray for people in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, and many other places where the war continues.’ I also repeated it on January 1, on the World Day of Peace, and I will continue to do so, calling loudly until the roar of weapons in Ukraine subsides and the path to a just peace begins.”
