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Pope Francis, in an Easter address to tens of thousands of worshipers in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, called for “peace to war-torn Ukraine” and caution in the face of conflicts that could lead to nuclear war.
Under the blazing sun in front of a crowd celebrating a return to tradition after previous years’ pandemic-related restrictions, the Pope dubbed Sunday’s holiday an “Easter of War”.
“We’ve seen way too much blood, way too much violence,” he said. “Our hearts are filled with fear and anguish too, as so many of our brothers and sisters have had to lock themselves up to be safe from bombing raids.”
“Let us all commit to pleading for peace from our balconies and on our streets,” he said, appealing to people to take action. “May the leaders of nations hear the people’s plea for peace.”
He quoted a line from a 1955 manifesto by physicist Albert Einstein and philosopher Bertrand Russell in which scientists and thinkers warned of the risks of nuclear weapons, writing: “Should we put an end to mankind, or should mankind prepare for war.” dispense? ”
The Easter message capped 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 kidnapped by Russian forces and released in a prisoner exchange, attended the Pope’s Easter Vigil service on Saturday, where he addressed them directly. “In this darkness that you live in, Mr. Mayor, MPs, the thick darkness of war, of cruelty, we all pray, pray with you and for you tonight,” he said.
The Pope’s Good Friday sermon at the Colosseum in Rome called for a truce between Russia and Ukraine and drew criticism from Ukrainian faith leaders who did not like Ukrainians and Russians carrying a cross together during services.
While the pope has often spoken out in support of Ukraine since the war began, he has so far avoided calling Russia an aggressor or calling what is happening in Ukraine an invasion. His Easter Sunday address was no exception. He said Ukraine had been “dragged” into a “cruel and senseless war,” but didn’t say by whom. He mentioned Ukraine and the Ukrainians by name, but not Russia.
Sofika Zielyk, ethnographer and artist, tells the story of pysanky, traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs, and how she uses them to help Ukraine. (Video: Zoeann Murphy/Washington Post)
The message highlighted the consequences of the war for Ukraine and its people, in particular “the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons, the divided families, the elderly left to fend for themselves, the lives shattered and the cities shattered”.
“I see the faces of the orphans fleeing the war,” Francis said. “When we look at her, we can’t help but hear her cry of pain, along with that of all the other children who are suffering around the world: those dying of hunger or lack of medical care, those who are victims of abuse and violence , and those who are denied the right to be born.”
He commended European nations for opening their doors to Ukrainian refugees, but suggested the same welcome should be extended to other vulnerable people fleeing conflict in other countries. He raised his hopes for a peaceful resolution to other conflicts around the world.
After apologizing in early April for the “deplorable behavior” of some Catholics in Canada’s boarding school system, which separated at least 150,000 Indigenous children from their families in order to assimilate them, the pope said on Sunday he hoped the “journey of reconciliation” would be successful “. that the Catholic Church in Canada is doing to indigenous peoples.”
“May the Spirit of the Risen Christ heal the wounds of the past and prepare hearts to seek truth and brotherhood,” he said.
Pope apologizes for ‘deplorable behavior’ by some Catholics in boarding schools
The Pope ended his address 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 report.