Pope Francis apologizes to Ukrainian youth for his inability to influence the situation in Ukraine
This morning, Ukrainian youth from the UGCC and RCC in Ukraine had a personal audience with His Holiness Pope Francis. During the meeting at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lisbon, the young Ukrainians, accompanied by the UGCC Youth Commission Deputy Head, Father Roman Demush, spoke about their wounds, sorrows, and the war in Ukraine.
The youth presented the Pope with symbolic gifts, saying that today in Ukraine, there is a danger of dying from Russian missiles and bullets and hunger; a bundle of wheat, a loaf of bread, and spring water are what our people need so much today. These gifts became a symbol of suffering in Ukraine: bread that the enemy is destroying, water which many people in Ukraine need — dozens of tons of it were sent to the regions of our country which suffered from massive enemy attacks.
The delegation included a priestly family. Ms. Iryna Bilska handed the Pope the fragments of missiles that had crashed into the churchyard in Beryslav (Kherson region). She said that their church had become a refuge for several thousand people. She also emphasized how Ukrainian families are suffering because they are separated from each other because of the war.
“This meeting was very emotional. The Pope listened and looked carefully, wiping away the tears of Ukrainian youth who came to tell him the truth about the war and Russia’s destruction of life in Ukraine. Pope Francis spoke very briefly, assuring them of his prayers for Ukraine. The Holy Father also asked the youth to forgive him for his inability to do something more, emphasizing that evil is brutal,” said a participant of the meeting, Deputy Head of the Patriarchal Commission on Youth of the UGCC, Fr. Roman Demush added: “This meeting was another opportunity to give voice to the young people who came — more than 500 people — to World Youth Day to be the voice of Ukraine, which is suffering, to tell the truth about the war in our country, to testify to the suffering Christ and to meet the risen Christ.”
photo: Vatican Media
