PHOTO: People fleeing advancing Russian forces file across wooden planks crossing the Irpin River below a destroyed bridge in Ukraine March 9, 2022. (CNS photo/Thomas Peter, Reuters)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said the Vatican "is ready to do everything to put itself at the service of peace" in Ukraine.
"Rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine," the pope said March 6 as he led thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in praying for peace after reciting the Angelus. Pope Francis said he was sending two cardinals to Ukraine: Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who runs the office of papal charities, and Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, interim president of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
"The presence of the two cardinals there is the presence not only of the pope, but of all the Christian people who want to get closer and say: 'War is madness! Stop, please! Look at this cruelty!'" the pope said. Moments after the pope spoke, Cardinal Krajewski told Vatican News that he was about to leave Rome for Poland "because from Poland I am sure I will be able to enter Ukraine. Then we'll see how far I can get to reach the people and show them the closeness of the pope, tell them he loves them, prays for them and wants to encourage them." The cardinal also will bring rosaries from Pope Francis "because with prayer we can move mountains and even stop the war," he said. Cardinal Czerny told Catholic News Service that he would be heading to Hungary's border with Ukraine and would see what could be done from there.
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You can also send a check to the Diocese of Saginaw. Checks are to be made payable to the Diocese of Saginaw, with Ukraine written in the memo. The funds will then be sent to CRS and its partners already in Ukraine and bordering countries, ready to provide safe shelter, hot meals, hygiene supplies, fuel to keep warm, transport to safe areas, counseling support and more. For more information or questions, you may contact Maria Coss at 989-797-6646 or mcoss@dioceseofsaginaw.org.
