Pope Francis: 'War against Ukraine is inhuman and sacrilegious'

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Source: Vatican News

As Russia intensifies its invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth week, Pope Francis on Sunday renewed his heartfelt appeal for an end to the atrocities being committed. Speaking at the end of the Sunday Angelus with pilgrims in St Peter's Square, the Pope said: "Unfortunately, the violent aggression against Ukraine does not stop, a senseless massacre where every day there is a repetition of slaughter and atrocities. There is no justification for this! I plead with all those involved in the international community to truly commit to ending this abhorrent war. "

The Holy Father lamented the shelling of innocent civilians, including the elderly, children, and pregnant mothers.

"All this is inhuman! Indeed, 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! Let us not forget it is inhuman and sacrilegious cruelty! "

Pope Francis also recalled his visit to the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital on Saturday afternoon, where he greeted several Ukrainian children who have fled the war and are receiving treatment.

"One was missing an arm; one had a head injury...innocent children," lamented the Pope.

Around 50 Ukrainian children have come to the Pope's hospital so far. Some have war injuries and some are being treated in the oncology and neurology departments.

Pope Francis said many families have been separated by the war, and many children and fragile people are left to "die under the bombs without being able to receive help and find safety even in the air raid shelters."

As millions flee Ukraine into other nations, the Pope urged Europeans to "be close to these martyred people" and welcome them wholeheartedly and generously.

He also extended that appeal, saying Ukrainian refugees must continue to be welcomed and assisted even in the weeks and months to come. "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."

The Pope urged people to remember that those who have fled are mostly women and children now separated from their husbands and are without work.

And he called for them to be protected from "the vultures of society" who will seek to prey on them. "Please, let us protect them."

Pope Francis went on to thank the many Catholic Bishops and priests who have remained in Ukraine, some of whom he said he has spoken to in recent days. He especially thanked Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, for bringing the Pope's closeness to "the martyred Ukrainian people."

The Pope ended his appeal with a reminder and an invitation for all Christians to join him on Friday, 25 March, in making "a solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, especially of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

"May she, the Queen of Peace, help us obtain peace," he prayed.