Two disappeared Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests seized by Russian forces from their church in Berdyansk in November 2022 have been released after months of captivity, according to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Redemptorist Fathers Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta, who served at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Berdyansk, were among Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Russia-Ukraine war’
Ukraine sees religious growth surge amid conflict
Monday, June 10th, 2024
Ukraine has experienced a surge in religious growth since February 2022. The number of registered religious organisations has climbed by over 3,000, according to Kyiv’s State Service on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience. The increase brings the total number of religious organisations in Ukraine to 36,195. A key change is the movement of around 1,000 Read more
‘Stop The War’: Pope Francis pleads for peace in Ukraine, Gaza wars
Monday, April 29th, 2024The pope issued a plea for an end to the wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza during a rare interview with CBS News on Wednesday. “Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace,” Pope Francis told “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell during the hourlong interview. “A Read more
Pope shows off rosary of slain Ukrainian soldier, denounces ‘madness of war’
Monday, April 8th, 2024Pope Francis led thousands of people in a moment of silence Wednesday to pray for the aid workers killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza and a young Ukrainian soldier named Oleksandre who was killed in ‘’this madness of war.” Francis appealed anew for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages taken Read more
When it comes to geopolitics, Pope Francis is not infallible
Monday, March 18th, 2024
Pope Francis is good at pricking consciences. He does this regarding reconciliation and peace in the world, especially in Eastern Europe. For example, when he sends Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna – a leading figure from the Sant’Egidio Community who is skilled in peaceful conflict resolution – to meet with leaders of major powers. Or Read more
Pope’s ‘white flag’ comment sparks criticism from Ukraine and allies
Monday, March 11th, 2024
Pope Francis’ recent remark urging Kyiv to show the “courage of the white flag” has drawn criticism from Ukrainian and allied officials. Many perceive the statement as a call for Ukraine to surrender in its conflict with Russia. In an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, Francis advocated for peace talks brokered by Read more
Russian drone damages Kyiv’s Catholic cathedral
Thursday, November 30th, 2023Russia’s extensive drone attack on Kyiv Nov 25 damaged the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. Russia launched close to 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones at Ukraine’s capital as Ukrainians marked Holodomor Remembrance Day. The day commemorates the 7 million to 10 million victims of an artificial famine waged by Soviet dictator Read more
Caritas Ukraine humanitarian aid warehouse obliterated
Thursday, September 21st, 2023
Pope Francis has resolutely condemned the use of “conventional weapons” against civilian targets. In a message sent to Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Cardinal Peter Turkson, the condemnation comes after a Russian drone attack in Lviv, Ukraine, obliterated a Caritas-Spes-owned warehouse containing humanitarian aid. The secretary general of Caritas Internationalis, Alistair Dutton, said the Russian Read more
Pope Francis chastised for pro-Russian stance
Monday, September 11th, 2023
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has publicly criticised Pope Francis for his pro-Russian stance. Ukraine’s Eastern Rite Catholic bishops echoed Podolyak’s comments. Podolyak firmly rejected any notion of the Vatican mediating in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine and hinted at possible Russian influence within the Vatican bank. Podolyak’s criticism Read more
Pope defends his controversial praise of Russian imperialism
Thursday, August 31st, 2023
In a bid to quell the controversy that erupted following Pope Francis’ recent remarks praising Russian imperialism, the Vatican has moved to clarify his statements. The pope’s comments were made during a video conference with Russian Catholic youth, where his comments were misconstrued as an endorsement of present-day Russian aggression in Ukraine. Matteo Bruni, the Read more