杏MAP导航

By Isabella H. de Carvalho and Svitlana Dukhovych

鈥淚t was incredible. I would say that even now I am not fully aware of everything that happened,鈥� Tetiana, 17, told Vatican News, describing the emotional moment when, together with 31 other young Ukrainians, she was able to meet Leo XIV during the Wednesday General Audience, 11 June, in St. Peter鈥檚 Square.

The young people were able to enjoy days of serenity and lightheartedness, far from air raid sirens, bombs, and violence, and had the opportunity to take a photo with the 杏MAP导航.

The group belongs to the Greek Catholic Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kharkiv, Ukraine鈥檚 second-largest city and one of the most damaged by the conflict, as it is situated just a few kilometres from the border with Russia.

Thanks to the relations between the Greek Catholic Exarchate of Kharkiv and the local Caritas association with various Italian humanitarian organizations, for the second consecutive year a trip has been organized that brings young Ukrainians to Italy for three weeks, from 8 June to 5 July, during which they are able to visit Rome, Como, and Ponte di Legno in Lombardy.

On Tuesday night, while Kharkiv was once again hit by Russian drones鈥攃ausing at least three deaths and over 60 wounded, including nine children鈥攖hese young people, aged between 10 and 17, were able to spend time away from the conflict, and experience the closeness of the new 杏MAP导航, whose first words after being elected were an appeal for peace.

杏MAP导航鈥檚 support in praying for Ukraine

鈥淪eeing the 杏MAP导航 in person is already a great thing. But being in the same photo with him is something I really couldn鈥檛 imagine. These are emotions that cannot be expressed in words,鈥� says Vitaliy, 15.

For Sister Oleksia Pohrsnychna of the Congregation of St. Joseph, who has been serving at St. Nicholas Cathedral since 2018, seeing the emotion on the faces of the children in front of the crowd in St. Peter鈥檚 Square was a moment of great joy鈥攁s was the 鈥渟upport鈥� she felt from the 杏MAP导航 when they had the opportunity to greet him after the audience. 鈥淗e told us, 鈥業 always pray鈥�,鈥� explains the nun, 鈥渁 truly moving scene.鈥�

When a volunteer from the Diocese of Como鈥檚 Frontiere di Pace (Frontiers of Peace) initiative, who was accompanying the group, told the 杏MAP导航, 鈥淒on鈥檛 forget Ukraine,鈥� his response was categorical: 鈥淣o, never,鈥� says Nicola Gini, also a volunteer with the same organisation.

Nicola says he was struck by the look some of the young people gave to the sky when they heard the sound of an airplane flying over St. Peter鈥檚 Square. 鈥淵ou could see what they were thinking in their eyes. They really feel the oppression of this war deeply. To think that from this sky, after five seconds of reflection, you don鈥檛 have to worry, I think that鈥檚 the best gift you can give these young people.鈥�

The memory of Maria

The group of young people also presented 杏MAP导航 Leo with a framed photograph of their friend Maria. Just over a year ago, at the age of 12, she died in a bombing while shopping with her mother, Irina, a month before the trip that was to take her to Italy.

鈥淚t was as if they were present in the group, and I think this bond has been further strengthened today,鈥� says Nicola.

The photograph of Maria presented to 杏MAP导航 Leo   (@Vatican Media)

Difficult reality faced by young people

The young people also shared with Vatican News the 鈥渕any difficulties鈥� they experience on a daily basis. They are unable to study or see their friends; the terror of the sound of missiles and bombs and the damage they cause is constant, and many have been displaced from the homes where they grew up.

鈥淥ur routine is completely disrupted, our sleep is disturbed, we have to go down to the shelter all the time and we live in constant stress,鈥� says Tetiana. 鈥淲hen we come to Italy, as we are now, and talk to our peers, I always tell them: 'We are very happy for you that you are living your lives, that you do not know war, that you do not know the sound of air raid sirens. Appreciate these moments, appreciate a peaceful life. Because when war came, people began to appreciate even the smallest and most insignificant things'.鈥�

Living a normal life

The sense of a normal, peaceful life is precisely what the Church of St. Joseph of Cupertino, which is hosting the group in Rome, is trying to offer these days.

The children are staying with various families in the parish, but they eat their meals in the church and attend the summer camp with 280 other young people of the same age.

鈥淟ast night, one of the Ukrainian children said, 鈥榃here are my Italian parents? Why aren鈥檛 they here yet?鈥� as they were a couple of minutes late picking him up,鈥� explains Fr. Paolo Pizzuti with a smile. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very beautiful moment, but it鈥檚 more beautiful for us than for them. Welcoming them into our homes and our community has truly given us so much.鈥�

鈥淲e post photos of the children in a parents鈥� group, and they say, 鈥楾hank you for letting our children stay there, in a world where they can live normally. Where they can play and sleep peacefully, without thinking about when a siren will sound or a missile will arrive鈥�,鈥� Sister Oleksia says. 鈥淲e are so close to the area where the fighting is taking place that this time is also a dream for the children. They will return very happy.鈥�

Rest of the trip

After their stay in Rome, the young people will be hosted by the Diocese of Como, thanks to volunteers from the Frontiere di Pace (鈥淏orders of Peace鈥�) initiative, until 27 June. There, they will enjoy games and meetings with various parishes and communities.

Then, until 5 July, they will be in Ponte di Legno, Lombardy, where they will be welcomed by another humanitarian association, Amici in cordata nel mondo.