Pope Francis on the
war in Ukraine: ‘Let the guns be silenced.’
Pope
Francis appealed again today, Feb. 27, for an end to the war in Ukraine, for
“the silencing of the guns” and the opening of humanitarian corridors to those
fleeing the war. “God is with those who work for peace, not with those who use
violence,” he said.
The
pope’s words were directed to hundreds of pilgrims from many countries,
including several waving the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine, who were gathered
in St. Peter’s Square. After commenting on the Gospel of the day and reciting
the Angelus prayer with them, he spoke.
“I
invite everyone to make March 2, Ash Wednesday, a day of prayer and of fasting
for peace in Ukraine,” he said, repeating his appeal of last week. He called on
people to make it “a day to be close to the suffering of the people of the
Ukraine, a day to feel that we are all brothers and sisters and to implore God
for the end of the war.”
“The
one who makes war forgets humanity,” Pope Francis said. “He doesn’t look at the
concrete life of people, but he puts before this all the partisan interests of
power. He entrusts himself to the diabolical and perverse logic of arms, which
is farthest from the will of God, and he distances himself from the ordinary
people who want peace.”
The
pope also mentioned the innocent victims of the conflict in Ukraine. “I am
thinking of the old people, of those who at this hour seek refuge, of the
mothers fleeing with their children,” he said. “They are brothers and sisters
for whom it is urgent to open humanitarian corridors, and to give them
welcome.” Poland has given refuge to some 150,000 Ukrainians, while Romania,
Moldova and Slovakia had also welcomed many refugees.
Pope
Francis said that while our “heart is torn for what is happening in Ukraine,
let us not forget what is happening also in other parts of the world—in Yemen,
in Syria, in Ethiopia.” He called again for an end to the fighting in Ukraine
and these countries: “I repeat, let the guns be silenced.” He concluded his
Sunday message with a greeting in Ukrainian, saying “Slava Isusu Khrystu,”
meaning “Praise to Jesus Christ.”
