Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary this Friday (25), in a ceremony at the Vatican in which he lamented the “brutal war” taking place in Eastern Europe.
In early March, Ukraine’s Latin-rite Catholic bishops had asked the pope to publicly consecrate the two countries.
According to information from the Catholic Information Agency (ACI) and Vatican News, the act was repeated by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski at the Sanctuary of Fatima, in Portugal, and took place within the framework of the penitential celebration “24 hours for the Lord”, an initiative of Lent. which started at 1 pm Brasília time.
Francis asked for the intercession of the Virgin Mary for peace and consecrated the entire world, especially Russia and Ukraine.
“These days, news and images of death continue to pour into our homes as bombs destroy the homes of many of our unarmed Ukrainian brothers and sisters. The brutal war, which has befallen so many and which makes everyone suffer, causes fear and consternation in everyone,” the Pope said during his homily.
“We notice within us a sense of helplessness and inadequacy. We need to hear ourselves say, ‘Do not be afraid’. But human guarantees are not enough, the presence of God is necessary, the certainty of divine forgiveness, the only thing that erases evil, deactivates rancor, restores peace to the heart. Let us return to God, to his forgiveness,” Francis said.
Also according to the agencies, the pope also wrote a letter to the bishops to explain the act and mention that “in this dark hour, the Church is strongly called to intercede with the Prince of Peace and to be close to those who pay in their own skin the consequences of conflict”.
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