On Easter, pope asks Christ to ‘roll away’ the stones of war worldwide March 31, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Israel, Crisis in Ukraine, Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News 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.
Russian occupation forces close more Catholic churches in Ukraine March 27, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, News, World News Russian occupation forces in Ukraine continue to crack down on Catholics, with one militant group sealing off Ukrainian Greek Catholic churches in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
U.S. Catholic, other Christian leaders condemn Russian strikes on Ukraine energy grid March 26, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, World News Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and other Christian leaders in the U.S. have denounced Russia’s massive recent attack on Ukraine’s energy system.
Russian, Ukrainian church leaders react to Moscow terror attack March 25, 2024By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, World News Russia’s Catholic archbishop has echoed condemnations of a March 22 terror assault which left dozens dead and injured at a Moscow concert venue, although a bishop from war-torn Ukraine warned the atrocity should also remind Russians of what his country was suffering at their hands.
Major Archbishop Shevchuk discusses pope’s primacy, Ukraine’s faith and Russian terror March 22, 2024By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has insisted his countrymen will “never surrender” to Russia’s invasion and that the pope’s recent call for a negotiation of terms with Moscow was “deeply hurtful” for his nation.
Vatican says pope has not accepted invitation to go to Russia March 20, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has not accepted an invitation to travel to Moscow in June to meet with Vladimir Putin, the director of the Holy See press office said.
Papal envoy asks prayers for peace, solidarity with victims of war March 19, 2024By Cindy Wooden OSV News Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, World News Pope Francis’ envoy for peace in Ukraine asked his fellow bishops and all Catholics in Italy to continue their prayers for peace in Ukraine and in the Holy Land, but also to make those prayers concrete through acts of solidarity.
Ukrainian human rights advocate calls for synod on just defense March 13, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Bishops, Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church should hold a Synod of Bishops devoted exclusively to defining just war, just defense and just peace, said the president of the Institute of Religion and Society at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.
Vatican’s top diplomat says Russia and Ukraine must negotiate March 12, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis was not asking Ukraine to consider surrendering to Russia when he called for negotiations to end the war, but he was calling for both Russia and Ukraine to cease hostilities and engage in peace talks, the Vatican’s top diplomat said.
Ukrainian Catholic bishops, ambassador say Ukraine has ‘no choice but to defend’ itself March 11, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Ukraine’s Greek Catholic bishops, led by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, have said their nation will continue to fight Russian aggression, “notwithstanding the suggestions for need for negotiations coming from representatives of different countries, including the Holy Father himself.
Zelenskyy, Ukrainian church, respond to pope’s call for negotiations March 11, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis’ comment that Ukraine should have the “courage of the white flag” and engage in negotiation to end its war with Russia was dismissed by the Ukrainian government and church leaders.
Pope calls for the ‘courage of the white flag,’ negotiation, in Ukraine March 10, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News – Encouraging negotiations to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, Pope Francis called for the warring sides to have the “courage of the white flag,” a term usually associated with surrender.