A third of the 200,000 Ukrainians living in Italy are under age 30 and their energy filled the room when Pope Francis arrived at the Basilica of St. Sophia. This church is the headquarters of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic community in Rome.
Pope Francis gathered some white doves, but before releasing them he prayed for a few moments for peace in the Ukraine.
'One, two, three!'
Four years ago, seven percent of the country was invaded by Russia and there are at least two million displaced people in the country. Before entering, Pope Francis prayed a “Hail Mary” for peace with all those present.
Once inside the basilica the pope was welcomed with Christmas songs. For Catholics of the Ukrainian rite, it is still this liturgical time in the church.
Pope Francis greeted the sick with special affection and then listened to the words of welcome by his Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk.
The archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church explained that the crypt of this basilica became a memorial, since people could not return to the country because of communist repression. It was here they prayed for their deceased family and friends.
'It is a memorial not to forget the many churches destroyed during the Soviet Union and the millions of victims from Nazi and Communist persecution.
Among them, we remember blessed martyr Omeljan Kovch. He was a married priest murdered by the Nazis in the Majdanek concentration camp, today in Poland, for having saved numerous persecuted Jewish people during the dark Shoah period.'
The Archbishop of UGCC denounced the aggression his country suffers because of Russia after they had invaded Crimea four years ago. He said that it has been totally ignored by the world, despite the fact that it has unleashed the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.
In his speech, Pope Francis praised the courage of the Ukrainians and in particular the courage of the women: mothers and grandmothers who transmitted the faith to their children. Today, they still carry out great social work in Italy taking care of sick and elderly people.
POPE FRANCIS
'Behind each one of you there is a mother, a grandmother, who has transmitted the faith. Ukrainian women are heroic, really. We give thanks to the Lord.
I am here to tell you that I am close to you, close to your heart, close with prayer, close when I celebrate the Eucharist. I beg the Prince of Peace to silence the weapons there. I also ask that you no longer need to make huge sacrifices to support your loved ones.'
When the pope finished, he revealed a little secret: that every night before bedtime, he prays to an image of the Blessed Mother that was given to him by Archbishop Sviatoslav himself. Before being named Archbishop, he had lived in Argentina. Pope Francis asked those present to pray one last time for the Blessed Mother's intercession for peace, before concluding the visit.
