Ukraine: 杏MAP导航 Francis renews appeal for Easter truce

An Orthodox priest blesses traditional Easter baskets after Mass in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis renews his appeal for an Easter truce to the war in Ukraine, as Eastern-rite Catholics and Orthodox faithful celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord.

By Devin Watkins

As Oriental Christians who follow the Julian calendar celebrate the great feast of Easter, 杏MAP导航 Francis took the opportunity to call for a truce to the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at the Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peter鈥檚 Square on Sunday, the 杏MAP导航 warmly greeted Orthodox Christians and Eastern-rite Catholics, and lamented the atrocities of war which have wounded peace.

鈥淢ay Jesus grant peace, which has been wounded by the barbarity of war,鈥� he said.

As Sunday marks two months since Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the 杏MAP导航 noted that the war has grown more violent.

鈥淚t is sad that these days, which are the holiest and most solemn for all Christians, we hear the deadly noise of weapons rather than the sound of bells announcing the Resurrection. It is sad that arms are taking the place of words.鈥�

Easter truce in Ukraine

杏MAP导航 Francis then renewed his appeal for an Easter truce, calling it 鈥渢he least and most tangible sign of a desire for peace.鈥�

鈥淢ay attacks cease so as to come to the aid of suffering people,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ay we stop and obey the words of the Risen One, who on Easter day told His disciples: 鈥楶eace be with you鈥�.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 went on to urge everyone to pray for peace and have the courage to say that 鈥減eace is possible.鈥�

鈥淢ay political leaders鈥攑lease鈥攍isten to the voices of your people, who desire peace and not an escalation of conflict.鈥�

Cameroon pilgrimage for peace

Separately, the 杏MAP导航 threw his support behind a pilgrimage in Cameroon to reconsecrate the African nation to the Virgin Mary and pray for peace.

"The Bishops and faithful of Cameroon today make a pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Marienberg to reconsecrate the nation to the Mother of God and entrust it to her protection,鈥� he said.

Catholic in Cameroon, he added, are praying for 鈥渢he return of peace in their country, which for five years has been wounded by violence in several regions.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis also invited all Christians to join in their prayer, 鈥渟o that that God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may grant a true and long-lasting peace soon to this beloved nation.鈥�

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