By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Just as Jesus removed the stone that sealed his tomb on the morning of the Resurrection, on Easter Christ alone “has the power to roll away the stones that block the path to life” and which trap humanity in war and injustice, Pope Francis said. Through […]
Ukraine: Orthodox Patriarch ‘blesses’ Russian aggression
By Lilia Kovalyk-Vasiuta OSV News LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s Secret Service, SBU, announced suspicion against Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who, it said, “blessed the racists to kill Ukrainians.” “The Security Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office gathered evidence against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Volodymyr Gundyaev (known as Kirill), who promotes armed aggression […]
‘They bomb, we sing’
Papal almoner visits flooded Kherson in sixth Ukraine trip By Paulina Guzik OSV News After driving more than 1,900 miles, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, papal almoner, arrived in Kherson to show closeness to a community shattered by war and a devastating flood. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski started his visit to war-torn Ukraine June 25 “to assist those […]
Our churches must serve peace, Russian Orthodox leader tells cardinal
By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches should join efforts to promote peace before threats of a “major global armed conflict,” the head of the Russian Orthodox Church told Pope Francis’ envoy on a peace mission to Moscow. Meeting June 29 with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, sent […]
American Catholics stand with Ukraine, one year after invasion
By Gina Christian OSV News Catholics throughout the U.S. are standing in solidarity with Ukraine, as that nation marks the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In a Feb. 22 statement, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Illinois, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, urged the faithful […]
Pope praises Ukrainians’ courage in ‘this sea of evil’
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Nine months after Russia launched its war on Ukraine, Pope Francis wrote to the Ukrainian people expressing his admiration for their courage and commitment to their country in the face of so much death and destruction. “In this sea of evil and sorrow — 90 […]
Pope tells Putin: ‘Stop this spiral of violence and death’
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — With “rivers of blood and tears” still flowing in Ukraine and with the increasing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, Pope Francis begged Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Stop this spiral of violence and death.” With the situation being “so serious, devastating and threatening,” the pope […]
Russian priest says Catholics, including clerics, fear conscription
By Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service A senior Russian priest dismissed President Vladimir Putin’s threats of nuclear war as “just words,” but said many young Catholics now fear being forcibly conscripted with their priests to join the war against Ukraine. “Although I’m not a military person, I don’t think the Russian army could even use […]
For Pope Francis, there is no such thing as a ‘just war’
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — U.S. President Joe Biden minced no words calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “butcher” who should no longer be in power. No matter how much one reporter pressed Pope Francis on the plane to Rome from Malta, asking, “What would be your message to Putin?” “What […]
Catholic college, other colleges to award Zelenskyy honorary degrees
By Gina Christian Catholic News Service PHILADELPHIA — A local Catholic college founded by Ukrainian women religious has teamed up with 15 other schools to confer honorary doctorates on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Manor College in Jenkintown north of Philadelphia announced April 1 it will award an honorary doctor of humane letters degree to […]
