Papal Almoner in Ukraine: Besides suffering there is great hope and love

Cardinal in Lviv

Source: Vatican News

Papal charities chief Cardinal Konrad Krajewski left Ukraine by car on Saturday, after a three-day visit in which he met church leaders, aid workers and many refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.

Speaking in Lviv on his arrival last week, he told reporters: "I am not a diplomat. I came here with the logic of the Gospel. That's what Jesus would do. He was always on the side of the people who were suffering. The Holy Father also uses this logic of the Gospel."

On Thursday, the Cardinal presided at an ecumenical prayer service for peace in the Cathedral of Lviv, attended by the two Catholic Archbishops of Ukraine: Metropolitan Archbishop of Lviv, Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki and the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Some Orthodox bishops were also present, including those who recognize the sovereignty of the Patriarchate of Moscow.

Speaking afterwards Cardinal Krajewski said the Church in Ukraine is united. "A divided Church is a scandal," he said, noting that "Today we were all united, everyone prayed together and asked God for peace, according to the Gospel."

Describing the choral prayer as rising "like the smoke of the incense," the Cardinal said "this is our strength" and he expressed his wish to "pass on this power and strength to the Ukrainian people.. Through faith, we can move mountains. I believe in that. Even more so to stop a stupid war," he said.

In the afternoon he visited the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing of Rawa Ruska-Hrebenne, where he met with volunteers who are helping refugees waiting to cross the border. In the evening he he prayed with the refugees at the Parish of St John Paul II in Lviv and had dinner with them.

On Saturday morning, Cardinal Krajewski celebrated Mass in Zhovkva, near Lviv, in the parish of St Lawrence, on the border with Poland where many priests are working to welcome the people. In his homily in Polish, he asked where this war is coming from. "Because there are people who do not walk in the ways of God; they have created their own ways - cursed ways, because without God. Godless ways are destructive for everyone, they destroy everything, starting with those who walk in them."

Cardinal Krajewski stressed that despite what happens, we are called to be flowers that bloom, that offer their beauty even in difficulty because "flowers are good for every occasion: for birth, when someone has to ask for forgiveness or when one is in love." He invited everyone to strive to go forward always with hope and strong faith.

Before leaving Ukraine, Cardinal Krajewski told Vatican News: "I went to Ukraine to support our brothers and sisters, to bring the Holy Father's blessing, to be close to them, to pray with them. So we met them along with various religious leaders, we were together... I went also to thank the people of good will who are offering their homes to refugees, the many volunteers in Ukraine and also the many donors. There are large trucks filled with aid supplies that are constantly going to Kyiv, stopping a hundred kilometres away more or less. It has been a journey of faith, a Gospel journey, truly a religious mission.

"Yes, there were many donations, wherever we went there were people who contributed, even in a small way. Of course, the trip expressed very concrete support, but it was important above all to be with them, with the people. The mayors and prefects of the area came with us, despite the air raid sirens warning them to take cover. We prayed and talked about the near future. There is great hope for the future but the weapons must be stopped and the sun must finally rise over Ukraine as well."

The Cardinal said what struck him most was the sight of many women with children going towards the border. "You can see that people are very tired from so many days of travel. But on the other hand, you experience this incredible welcome and the help. So I have to say that besides the suffering, there is also great hope and love."

Speaking fo the need for 'weapons of faith' Cardinal Karjewski mentioned several times the need to silence the real weapons in order to make those of peace, prayer and unity resound.

He said "I brought many rosary beads which I was also able to give to the soldiers, to the people who were leaving the country, who were going towards the Polish border. We also prayed a lot... Everywhere we put ourselves in prayer. Then I would always see tears when people would say, 'Here, these rosaries are from the Holy Father who is near and prays for you.'"