A Vatican envoy in Ukraine prayed in silence at the recently discovered mass grave in Izium on Monday while forensic experts in white protective suits exhumed bodies – at least 146 so far. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski said during his visit to the grave site on 19 September that “seeing so many [dead] in one area Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Russia-Ukraine conflict’
Pope Francis: ‘Cardinal Krajewski in Ukraine to show my closeness’
Thursday, September 15th, 2022“We continue to pray for the Ukrainian people, that the Lord will give them comfort and hope.” Pope Francis made that appeal on Sunday as he spoke to pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer. The Pope also recalled that he had sent Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Read more
Ukrainian bishop fears hardest winter since World War II
Monday, September 5th, 2022
A Ukrainian bishop fears the upcoming winter will be the hardest since World War II, with shortages of gas, electricity and water impacting a population hit hard by the Russian invasion. “It will be the hardest one since World War II,” said Jan Sobiło (pictured), auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia. “I already ordered Read more
Ukrainian bishops praise efforts to restart schooling disrupted by war
Monday, September 5th, 2022Ukrainian bishops welcomed efforts to restart classes for a new school year and offered church basements as emergency air raid shelters for children. “The Ukrainian authorities know education is vital for the country’s future, so everything is being done to get youngsters back to school, even while our soldiers are fighting at the front,” Auxiliary Read more
Vatican tries to mend Ukraine ties after Kyiv protests pope’s comments
Thursday, September 1st, 2022The Vatican acted to mend strained relations with Ukraine on Tuesday after Pope Francis upset Kyiv by referring to Russian ultra-nationalist Darya Dugina, who was killed by a car bomb near Moscow, as an innocent victim of war. Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba summoned the Vatican’s ambassador in Kyiv to protest, saying the Read more
‘The Ukrainian heart is torn by the pope’s words’: nuncio summoned over Francis’ comments on car bomb
Monday, August 29th, 2022The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Pope Francis’ ambassador to Ukraine, to express disappointment about papal comments regarding the death of Darya Dugina, a 29-year-old commentator with a nationalist Russian TV channel. In an 25 August briefing, Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba told journalists that summoning a nuncio to the ministry was Read more
CathNews columnist blacklisted by the Ukraine government
Monday, August 15th, 2022
I have been blacklisted by the Ukraine government. The Center for Countering Disinformation, an agency of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine – which advises the president of Ukraine – has compiled a list of over 78 international figures who are accused of promoting so-called “Russian propaganda.” And I happen to be included Read more
Ukrainian minister says Russia blocking access to medicines
Monday, August 15th, 2022Ukraine’s health minister has accused Russian authorities of committing a crime against humanity by blocking access to affordable medicines in areas its forces have occupied since invading the country six months ago. In an interview with The Associated Press, Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko said Russian authorities have repeatedly blocked efforts to provide state-subsidised drugs Read more
Russian Kiwis who oppose Ukraine war targeted by death threats and hate speech
Thursday, July 14th, 2022Bitter divisions in New Zealand’s Russian community have led to hate speech and death threats, with many now afraid to speak out against Putin even though they don’t support the Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine. The animosity has deepened to the point where police and the Race Relations Commissioner have become involved. Commissioner Meng Foon Read more
Francis cancels meeting with Kirill. No visit to Kyiv
Thursday, April 28th, 2022
A meeting between Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow planned for June has been cancelled out of concern it could cause “confusion”. And there will be no papal visit to Kyiv while war rages, Pope Francis said in an interview with the Argentine daily newspaper La Nación on 21 April. Pope Francis Read more