杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

In his remarks to the leaders of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, 杏MAP导航 Francis acknowledged the "difficult and delicate situation鈥� in Ukraine, which has suffered more than five years of war in its eastern provinces. The 杏MAP导航 noted the so-called 鈥榟ybrid鈥� nature of the conflict, 鈥渃omposed as it is of acts of war in which those responsible camouflage themselves; a conflict where the weakest and the smallest pay the highest price; a conflict aggravated by propagandistic falsifications and by manipulations of various types, also in the attempt to involve in the religious aspect.鈥�

"I hold you in my heart"

The Holy Father assured the visiting prelates, 鈥淚 hold you in my heart, and I pray for you, dear Ukrainian brothers.鈥� He said, too, that his prayer goes out for all those affected by the fighting: 鈥淚 ask of the 鈥楪od of all comfort鈥� to comfort the souls of those who have lost their loved ones due to the war; those who bear wounds in their body and in their spirit; those who have had to leave their home and work, and face the risk of searching a more human future elsewhere, far away.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis said that each day, in the morning and at night, he looks upon an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, presented to him by Major Archbishop Shevchuk. 鈥淚t may be said that I begin and end the days 'in Ukrainian', looking at Our Lady," the Holy Father said, ensuring the Bishops that he entrusted them and their churches to 鈥渢he tenderness of Our Lady, who is Mother.鈥�

Witnesses of Christian hope

In the face of 鈥渃omplex situations, caused by the conflicts,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said the main role of the Church is 鈥渢hat of offering witness of Christian hope.鈥� For this reason, he said, 鈥渢he priority for believers" should be "that of remaining united to Jesus, our hope.鈥� He called on Ukrainians to look to the example of the Saints, who, "in the violent field of history... planted Christ's Cross. And they bore fruit.鈥� This way of acting, the 杏MAP导航 said, is a rejection of the 鈥渓ogic of the world, according to which one responds to violence with violence." 

杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged the Pastors to be concerned primarily for prayer, and for the spiritual life of themselves and of their flocks. "It is the first occupation,鈥� he said. 鈥淣o other goes before it.鈥�

Fostering a spirit of closeness

He also recommended that the Bishops should be close to their people. 鈥淭hat is what the Lord had asked of His Apostles鈥� on Holy Thursday, the night before He was crucified. 鈥淭he closeness of the Pastors to the faithful is a channel that is built day by day, and which brings the living water of hope.鈥�

In that 鈥渟pirit of closeness,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 recalled the humanitarian initiative he promoted in favour of Ukraine. He expressed his gratitude to all who 鈥渃ontributed to the realization of this collection, both on the economic level, and on the organizational and technical levels.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 added that he hoped to see other special projects follow the first initiative, which was now substantially concluded. 鈥淲e cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering, wherever they come from,鈥� he said.

Synodality

In addition to 鈥減rayer鈥� and 鈥渃loseness,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis added, as a third feature of their pastoral activity, the concept of 鈥渟ynodality鈥� 鈥� a word, he said, that is already familiar. He highlighted three important aspects of synodality: listening; shared responsibility; and the involvement of the laity. Synodality, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渓eads to broadening horizons, to living the wealth of one鈥檚 own tradition within the universality of the Church鈥� The unity in the Church will be far more fruitful, the more the understanding and cohesion between the Holy See and the particular Churches will be real.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his remarks with the hope that the meeting would be a 鈥減owerful鈥� time of 鈥渟haring, of mutual listening, of free dialogue, always inspired by the search for good, in the spirit of the Gospel.鈥�