杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Like every war, the 鈥渃ruel and senseless鈥� war in Ukraine, now into its second month, represents a defeat for all humanity, 杏MAP导航 Francis said at his weekly Angelus address.
 

The Holy Father launched another powerful appeal for an end to the 鈥渂arbaric and sacrilegious鈥� act of war, warning that "war does not devastate only the present, but the future of a society as well.鈥� Pointing to statistics that show half of all Ukrainian children are now displaced, the 杏MAP导航 said this is what it means to destroy the future, 鈥渃ausing dramatic trauma in the lives of the smallest and most innocent among us.鈥�

The Holy Father insisted, 鈥淲ar should not be something that is inevitable. We should not accustom ourselves to war.鈥� Instead, he said, 鈥渨e need to convert today鈥檚 disdain into a commitment for tomorrow.鈥� He called on all political leaders to commit to putting an end to war:

Turning especially toward 鈥渂attered Ukraine,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed that political leaders might recognize that every day of war makes the situation worse for everyone; and he renewed his appeal:

Recalling the consecration of humanity, and of Russia and Ukraine in particular, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which the Holy Father led on Friday evening from St Peter鈥檚 Basilica, 杏MAP导航 Francis invited the faithful to pray once again 鈥渦ntiringly to the Queen of Peace,鈥� and led them in the recitation of the Hail Mary.