杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

The bishops of Asia have joined 杏MAP导航 Francis in appealing to Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine and seek a peaceful resolution to all issues at the United Nations, warning that the possible use of weapons of mass destruction would lead to a nuclear holocaust.

鈥淲e join 杏MAP导航 Francis in appealing to the rulers of Russia and to all others who believe in the power of violence, to solve world problems through peaceful means and dialogue in the UN,鈥� Myanmar Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon said on Friday. 

杏MAP导航鈥檚 peace efforts

杏MAP导航 Francis has been closely following the developments in Ukraine since before Russia鈥檚 large-scale military invasion of its neighbour on February 24. He has made several appeals for peace through dialogue and negotiation.

Sensing the winds of war with Russia鈥檚 buildup at Ukraine鈥檚 border, he used his weekly General Audience of February 23 鈥渢o appeal to those with political responsibility to examine their consciences seriously before God, who is the God of peace and not of war,鈥� and who wants us to be brothers and not enemies.

He thus invited all to observe March 2, Ash Wednesday, as a day of fasting and prayer for peace in the region, saying 鈥淛esus taught us that the diabolical senselessness of violence is answered with God's weapons, with prayer and fasting鈥�. He urged, 鈥淢ay the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war.鈥�

The day after the invasion, the Holy Father chose to visit the Russian Embassy to the Holy See in Rome, where he spoke for over half an hour with Ambassador Alexander Avdeev, expressing his concern about the war.

UN mandate

Following in the steps of the 杏MAP导航, Cardinal Bo, who is president of the Federation of Asian Bishops鈥� Conferences (FABC), said, 鈥淲e appeal directly to President Putin. Russia is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, tasked with promoting world peace and ensuring the rights of every nation... We appeal to Russia to cease attacks on Ukraine, and return to the UN for peaceful resolution of all issues,鈥� he wrote in a statement.

Stressing 鈥減eace is always possible; peace is the only way for humanity鈥檚 future,鈥� the 73-year-old Cardinal expressed hope over Wednesday鈥檚 overwhelming vote at the UN General Assembly demanding an immediate halt to Moscow鈥檚 aggression against Ukraine and the withdrawal of all Russian troops. 鈥淢ore than 140 countries voted against this war of attrition which threatens to destroy human security and respect for global institutions,鈥� he said.

Spectre of nuclear holocaust

On Friday, a fire at a training building at Ukraine鈥檚 Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant seized by Russian forces on Friday sent a chilling alarm across the globe. However, the huge blaze at Europe鈥檚 largest power plant has been extinguished and officials said the facility was now safe.

Voicing the concerns of Asia鈥檚 bishops, Cardinal Bo warned that 鈥渢he nightmare scenario of a global nuclear holocaust is frighteningly becoming a possibility.鈥� He said 鈥淭he massive attacks on Ukraine and the impending threat of use of weapons of mass destruction, have brought the world to the threshold of self-annihilation,鈥� adding, 鈥淭he heart-wrenching scenes of Ukraine attacks have shocked the world.鈥�

Lessons of history

Stressing that 鈥渉istory is a cruel teacher鈥�, the Cardinal, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops鈥� Conference of Myanmar, said 鈥渕egalomaniac men unleashed the demons of two sadistic world wars鈥� in the last century. 鈥淭he memory of the holocaust remains a festering wound in the human conscience.鈥� 

鈥淭here were no victors in those wars,鈥� he pointed out, adding, 鈥淗istory mummified those evil men in unmarked graves as fossils of human cruelty.鈥� This should not repeat itself in the 21st century, he urged, arguing 鈥渢he world has suffered a lot, encountering the multidimensional crisis of a pandemic that killed millions dealing a blow to the economy, impoverishing millions鈥�. 鈥淭his is the time for global healing not hurting,鈥� Cardinal Bo added.

Several Asian bishops have also separately denounced Russia鈥檚 assault on Ukraine.