Pope Francis at his General Audience thanked Poland for providing urgent aid to the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing from Ukraine.
POPE FRANCIS
You, before anyone, supported Ukraine, opening your borders, your hearts and the doors of your homes, to Ukrainians fleeing from war. You are generously offering... You are generously offering them everything they need.
The Pope also personally thanked the speaker responsible for translating his words into Polish at the Audience. He explained that the Franciscan is Ukrainian.
POPE FRANCIS
His parents are at this moment in an underground refuge to protect themselves from the bombs, somewhere near Kyiv. And he continues to do his duty here with us. By accompanying him, we accompany the entire population suffering because of the bombings. Thank you for continuing with your work.
It was also a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine. It coincided with the Wednesday General Audience, which the Pope is dedicating to the elderly.
POPE FRANCIS
When you return home and spend time with Grandpa or Grandma, who maybe does not think clearly or who has somewhat lost the ability to speak, when you spend time with them, you “waste time.” But this “wasting time” strengthens the human family.
The Pope continued to show signs of pain in his knee as he entered Paul VI hall.
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