As we end our Advent journey and enter the joyous commemoration of the Birth of our Savior, we do so with a pall of sadness due to the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. With the toll of wounded and dead on both sides of this terrible war in the hundreds of thousands, religious leaders are calling for prayers and assistance for the suffering people of the Ukraine. As winter comes, the vicious bombing of civilians by the Russians has greatly destroyed vital infrastructure, which has led to freezing conditions for thousands, exacerbating further displacement of families.
Pope Francis has been publicly calling for an end to all hostilities in Ukraine. Last month in an interview with the Italian newspaper “La Stampa,” he said, “We are continually watching as the situation evolves. The Holy See is willing to do everything possible to mediate and end the conflict in Ukraine.” He added, “We are trying to develop a network of relationships that will foster a rapprochement between the parties, to find solutions. Also, the Holy See does what it must to help prisoners,” while giving humanitarian support “for the people of tormented Ukraine, whom I carry in my heart along with their suffering.”
When asked by the reporters if he really believed peace was possible at this point, he responded, “I have hope. Let’s not resign ourselves; peace is possible.”
Earlier this month, Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby traveled to Ukraine for a three-day visit to show solidarity with those suffering from this terrible war. It was the first such visit of an archbishop of Canterbury to an independent Ukraine. He met with the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations in a bomb shelter, with sirens blaring outside because of the constant bombing by the Russians. He asked these leaders what his church could offer “in the face of the ongoing devastation, loss and destruction caused by this war.” He also met with Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. He told all those he met that he prays daily for Ukraine. “My position is not to promise much but to do more than I promise,” he said. “We will have a meeting of bishops, where we will provide a report on our journey and propose concrete steps to help those in need in Ukraine.”
Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk of Odesa-Simferopol, the Latin-rite bishop whose diocese includes Kherson, Ukraine, said, “All the methods used by Soviet paramilitary police have returned with the Russian occupiers – the cruel and bestial behavior is absolutely unchanged.”
In an interview with the Catholic News Service, Bishop Szyrokoradiuk described the condition of his flock as bleak – many are without running water, electricity or any heat. He said, “The whole situation is tragic; most people have nothing at all, while communication links are also down since cables, modems and satellite dishes were all ripped apart to allow only Russian TV and radio.”
He added, “It’s dangerous to travel outside designated routes, since the roads are heavily mined. While many ordinary people fled Kherson at the outset, fearing it would be bombarded and destroyed, many were later tricked into leaving or forcibly deported, including huge numbers of children from the city’s orphanages. But most parishioners have stayed, and we’re doing what we can for them.”
Bishop Szyrokoradiuk, out of frustration and anger, added, “Putin’s Russia should be seen and understood in the same way as Nazi Germany under Hitler, the situation is the same now as it was then, making negotiations impossible. When they [the Russians] occupied Crimea and the Donbas in 2014, we were advised to accept this as the price for peace. But it wasn’t the end, and they later demanded more, and it would be just the same now, as they regroup forces to strike us again. Long-term peace and order will only return once these murders are placed before an international criminal court.”
It is painful and totally ironic that Christians in this part of the world, who honor and worship the Prince of Peace, are killing and maiming one another as we all prepare to celebrate His birth. Pope Francis has called on Catholics to minimize the spending associated with Christmas and sacrifice by giving in a way to help the suffering Ukrainians. May the Prince of Peace and His message of reconciliation and peace touch the stony hearts of those who wage war in our world!
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
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