Pope to lead worldwide consecration of Russia and Ukraine

Ukrainian Icon - Image ACN

At St Peter's Basilica in Rome on Friday 25 March, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at 5pm (4pm GMT).

In unity with the Holy Father, the Act of Consecration will also be made at the same time in Churches around the world.

In London Cardinal Vincent Nichols will celebrate Mass in Westminster Cathedral at 5.30pm, making the Act of Consecration during Mass. All are most welcome to attend.

The Act of Consecration will be made at the same time at the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Holy Family in London. Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski stated: "I am inviting everyone who is able to join us at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile, located in central London, to also pray for peace in Ukraine and for the millions of people forced to leave their homes and their country.. Let's come to pray together during this time of Lent to pray for conversion of hearts, of Russia and of the nations of the World. Let us ask Mary, the Mother of God, to open our hearts and the hearts of the perpetrators, to end this needless violence."

The Liturgy will be celebrated in Ukrainian with the homily as well as the prayer of consecration in Ukrainian and English.

Bishop across Ukraine have enthusiastically welcomed the consecration of the country and its neighbour to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv-Zaporiyia told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): "I would like to share with you my joy over the initiative of Pope Francis to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

The bishop is based in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, which has been bombarded by Russian forces since the invasion began. A missile struck his house on Tuesday 1st March, tearing a hole in the roof. No one was injured.

Bishop Honcharuk said that, in the middle of suffering and destruction, the consecration was "a sign of God's victory, of love, of goodness and of life".

He added: "Like other dioceses in Ukraine, our diocese has begun to prepare novenas to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and we are now getting ready for such a beautiful event."

Bishop Honcharuk has asked people around the world to pray the Rosary for Mary's intercession that there might be an end to the conflict.

Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk of Odessa said: "Along with the whole world, we are praying with great hope, and we are asking for prayer." He said that, despite relative calm at the start of the invasion, Odessa had been under fire from Russian soldiers over the last few days and that there had been frequent air raid warnings. So many people are dying every day."

Odessa, which is the third most populous city in Ukraine, lies on the Black Sea not far from Crimea, where the Russian Federation has battleships stationed.

Bishop Szyrokoradiuk said: "We are constantly afraid of an attack from the sea."

But, he said: "We believe in the help of Mary, the Mother of God."

Pope Francis has asked bishops around the world to take part in the consecration. H said: "This act of consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace."

Source: Vatican News/ACN/CBCEW