Cardinal says Ukrainian medal belongs to all Catholics, not him, as he urges continued aid

Amid launching a dramatic appeal to help Ukrainians “freezing in genocidal attacks by Russia,” and after coordinating years of humanitarian efforts for the country, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner said he is “unable to accept the medal announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” the prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity told OSV News Jan. 23.

“In helping the suffering Ukraine for the last four years, I was just doing my job,” he said. “You can’t be awarded a medal for this.”

Speaking to OSV News Jan. 23, Cardinal Krajewski explained that on Jan. 22 he received a message from the Chancellery of the President of Ukraine, saying that he was awarded a third-degree Medal of Merit. Polish media reported the papal almoner was among 49 recipients of the award.

The cardinal said he also received a visit that day from the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See Andrii Yurash.

“I told Mr. Ambassador I was very honored, and that I was touched that the president of Ukraine sees the tremendous help of the Catholic Church provided to Ukraine, but that as a priest, it’s my duty to help, it’s my job description, and that I was not doing anything exceptional,” he said.

“I was elevated to cardinalate by Pope Francis to do precisely this — give my life to others,” he pointed out.

Cardinal Krajewski is responsible for coordinating humanitarian efforts of the Vatican to Ukraine, and is distributing “millions of dollars” to the country torn by four years of war after Russia started its full scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. He traveled to Ukraine 10 times under Pope Francis’ pontificate to distribute help, but above all — to “embrace” the Ukrainians, in his own words, and bring them comfort from the Holy Father.

“Many Catholic organizations come to us, to the Vatican, as the heart of the Church, donating money and goods, because the Vatican is a trustworthy channel to help Ukraine,” Cardinal Krajewski told OSV News, listing the U.S. Catholic organization Cross Catholic Outreach “among many others that help, donating millions, or sending goods.”

“So my chest is not big enough to pin that medal to it,” he said. “It would have to be really very big to embody all those organizations, and individual Catholics, who contributed to helping Ukrainians in the last four years,” he said, asking that “Catholics of the world” be called the recipients of the medal instead.

“There is one employee in the Vatican, a priest, who brings me $500 every month to the cause of helping Ukraine,” Cardinal Krajewski said. “How can I stand and let the medal be put on my chest as people like this priest remain invisible,” the cardinal asked in a conversation with OSV News.

The cardinal spoke to OSV News amid relentless Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, including in the capital, Kyiv, where people are forced to flee to government-run tent shelters, which offer basic services and heat during blackouts. Two weeks after a massive Russian attack obliterated the power grid in the capital and in cities across the country — Ukraine has been plunged into the worst winter energy crisis since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

“People can’t sleep, so we’re sending them melatonin,” the cardinal said of the latest humanitarian convoy sent from the Vatican. “We’re also sending massive amounts of antibiotics and vitamin D,” among other things that are leaving Rome’s hub for the Vatican’s help, Rome’s Greek Catholic Basilica of Santa Sofia.

On Jan. 21, Vatican News launched an appeal for donations of foot and body warmers, thermal underwear and fleece, socks, blankets, camping gas burners and canisters, among other needed items, such as energy bars, nuts and chocolate.

“Every contribution,” the Basilica of Santa Sofia noted, “means warmth, food and a chance of survival for those most in need.”

“Ukraine has been abandoned,” Cardinal Krajewski told OSV News. “Since the focus of the world is on Venezuela, Gaza and other places, Russia is deliberately targeting Ukraine, thinking they can do whatever they want,” he said.

Bombarding the crucial infrastructure when temperatures dipped as low as minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit in mid-January and remained below freezing is “genocide,” the cardinal added.

“I was in Kyiv during the winter several times, it is a nightmare when the city is left without power at this time of the year. It is a deadly risk for people,” he said. People are “freezing in genocidal attacks by Russia,” he said.

“Ukraine is being sold,” the cardinal lamented. “I have no other explanation for the Western world that is not being able to stop this senseless war than somebody’s interest in keeping it going,” he said.

The cardinal echoed the words of Zelenskyy, who said Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland, that Europe’s response to the war is slow, fragmented and inadequate.

Cardinal Krajewski appealed to Catholics to help Ukraine and remain steadfast in assisting the invaded nation “even though you’re tired. Because like Jesus asked us to forgive 77 times, we need to help 77 times if needed, this is our duty,” he said.

“For me, the greatest joy is that all those humanitarian trucks that left Santa Sofia reached Ukraine safely,” the cardinal said. “I don’t have to have a medal to acknowledge it. I want all Catholics that help Ukraine to know that they deserve a medal, not me.”

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