During the meeting with the pilgrims, Pope Francis once again turned his attention to the long-suffering Ukraine, mentioning the victims of the Holodomor, calling it genocide, reports Vatican News.
“Let’s remember long-suffering Ukraine. This Saturday marks the anniversary of the horrifying genocide of the Holodomor, the 1932-1933 mass killing by famine artificially provoked by Stalin. We pray for the victims of this genocide, and we pray for the many Ukrainians, children and women, the elderly, and infants who today are being martyred by aggression,” said Pope Francis.
A few minutes before, addressing the participants and fans of the World Cup in Qatar, the pontiff wished that the event would become “an opportunity for meeting and harmony between peoples, promoting brotherhood and peace.”
“Let us pray for peace in the world and for the end of all conflicts, especially remembering the terrible suffering of the dear and long-suffering Ukrainian people,” he urged.
