Pope Francis, in an Easter speech given to tens of thousands of worshipers in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, called for “peace in war-torn Ukraine” and for attention to a conflict that could lead to a nuclear war. Under the bright sun in front of a crowd celebrating a return to tradition after the pandemic-related restrictions of previous years, the pope called Sunday’s holiday an “Easter of war.” “We saw too much blood, too much violence,” he said. “Our hearts are also filled with fear and anxiety, as so many of our brothers and sisters had to be locked away to be safe from the bombings.” “Let us all commit ourselves to begging for peace, from our balconies and streets,” he said in a call to the people to take up the cause. “May the leaders of the nations hear the call of the people for peace.” He quoted a 1955 manifesto from physicist Albert Einstein and philosopher Bertrand Russell, in which scientists and thinkers warned of the dangers of nuclear weapons, saying: “Will we put an end to the human race or will humanity perish? ” The Easter message included a weekend of religious events for Catholics. Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and elsewhere celebrate Easter on April 24. Three Ukrainian lawmakers and Melitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov, who was reportedly abducted by Russian forces and released on bail, attended the pope’s Easter vigil on Saturday, where he addressed them directly. “In this darkness you live in, Mr. Mayor, Members of Parliament, in the dense darkness of war, of cruelty, we all pray, we pray with you and for you tonight,” he said. The Pope’s Good Friday sermon at the Colosseum in Rome called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, prompting criticism from Ukrainian religious leaders who disliked Ukrainians and Russians carrying a cross during the service. While the Pope has often spoken out in favor of Ukraine since the start of the war, he has so far refrained from naming Russia as an aggressor or describing what is happening in Ukraine as an invasion. His speech on Easter Sunday was no exception. He said Ukraine was “dragged” into a “cruel and irrational war”, but did not say by whom. He mentioned Ukraine and the Ukrainians by name, but not Russia. Ethnographer and artist Sofika Zielyk tells the story of pysanky, traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs and how she uses them to help Ukraine. (Video: Zoeann Murphy / The Washington Post) The message underlined the consequences of the war for Ukraine and its people, especially “the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons, the divided families, the elderly left behind, the lives disintegrated and the cities razed to the ground.” “I see the faces of orphans fleeing war,” said Francis. “As we look at them, we can only hear their screams of pain, along with the screams of all those other children who are suffering all over our world: those who are dying of hunger or lack of medical care, those who are victims of abuse and violence, and to those who are denied the right to be born “. He praised European nations for opening their doors to Ukrainian refugees, but suggested that the same welcome be extended to other vulnerable people fleeing conflict elsewhere. He expressed hope for a peaceful resolution of other conflicts around the world. After apologizing in early April for the “miserable behavior” of some Catholics in Canada’s home school system that separated at least 150,000 Indigenous children from their families to assimilate them, the pope said Sunday he hoped the “reconciliation journey” would succeed. ». which the Catholic Church does in Canada with indigenous peoples. “ “May the Spirit of the risen Christ heal the wounds of the past and allow the hearts to seek the truth and the brotherhood,” he said. Pope apologizes for “deplorable behavior” of some Catholics in residential schools The Pope concluded his speech with a call for peace: “Peace is possible. Peace is a duty. “Peace is everyone’s primary responsibility!” Stefano Pitrelli, Amanda Coletta, Lateshia Beachum and Tobi Raji contributed to this exhibition.
