Pope Francis prayed the Angelus before a 30,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, the most since the start of the pandemic.
He condemned the war in Ukraine in some of the strongest terms he has used yet, addressing its disrespect for human life.
POPE FRANCIS
It is also sacrilegious because it goes against the sacredness of human life, especially against defenseless human life, which must be respected and protected, not eliminated, and this comes before any strategy.
While discussing the harmful effects of the war, the Pope referenced a recent visit he made to a Roman hospital to visit children who escaped Ukraine.
POPE FRANCIS
I went to see the wounded children who are here in Rome. One was missing an arm; one had a head injury...innocent children.
He expressed his concern for the millions of refugees fleeing conflict zones, and asked that the communities who welcome them continue to support their integration into society.
POPE FRANCIS
As you know at first, we do all we can to welcome everyone, but then we can get used to it, and our hearts cool a bit, and we forget about it. Let us think of these women and children who in time, without work, separated from their husbands, will be sought out by the “vultures” of society.
Pope Francis also praised the work of the apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, who has stayed in Kyiv since the start of the war, and invited all Catholics to join in the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary which will take place on March 25.
JM
