Pope Francis began April by meeting with several delegations of indigenous Canadians. He listened to their stories of abuses in Catholic residential schools between the late 1800s and the 1960s. The Pope then made a historic apology.
POPE FRANCIS
For the deplorable conduct of those members of the Catholic Church, I ask for God's forgiveness. I want to say to you with all my heart: I am greatly pained. I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in apologizing.
The next day, Pope Francis flew to Malta. His knew problems became evident as he used a forklift to get on and off the plane. In a meeting with local authorities, he was critical of Vladimir Putin, though he did not explicitly name him.
POPE FRANCIS
Once again, some powerful ruler is provoking conflict, sadly caught up in outdated claims of nationalist interest. Ordinary people must decide to either build a future that will be united or divided. Now in the night of war that has fallen over humanity, let us not allow the dream of peace to fade away.
After returning to Rome, the Pope gave a powerful message at his General Audience when he held up a Ukrainian flag that he received from the city of Bucha.
POPE FRANCIS
This flag comes from the war. From that martyred city of Bucha. Today, there are also Ukrainian children here with us, let us greet them and pray with them.
Pope Francis also participated in Holy Week celebrations. On Palm Sunday, he called for an 'Easter truce' between Russia and Ukraine that would break away from the 'logic of war.'
POPE FRANCIS
Let them lay down their arms. Let an Easter truce begin. Let us avoid reloading weapons and fighting again. Let us have a truce that brings peace through real negotiation. Let us also be willing to make a sacrifice for the good of the people. What kind of victory will it be if, at the end, we place the flag on a pile of rubble?
The most powerful moment of Holy Week took place on Good Friday at the Colosseum. During the Stations of the Cross, a Russian nurse and a Ukrainian nurse walked together carrying the cross.
RM
TR: MG
