Vatican secretary of state calls for ‘creative’ peace efforts in Ukraine May 18, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Asking European leaders for “creative efforts for peace” in Ukraine, the Vatican secretary of state said the Holy See “will continue to do its part.” “We cannot accept passively that the war of aggression in that tormented country continues,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin said May 16 at the Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavík, Iceland. A woman kisses a portrait of her husband at a cemetery in Bucha, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2023, on the first anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Her husband was shot and killed by a Russian soldier. (OSV News photo/Anna Voitenko, Reuters) Heads of state and government of the council’s 46 member countries voted to establish a “Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine” with a view toward eventually making Russia pay reparations. “The Council of Europe was founded in the wake of the Second World War, born out of the conviction that ‘the pursuit of peace based upon justice and international cooperation is vital for the preservation of human society and civilization,'” the leaders said in their final declaration. “It is a peace project, built on the promise of ‘never again,’ a promise that has been fundamentally challenged by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” Cardinal Parolin, addressing the leaders, also spoke about the Council of Europe’s self-definition as “a peace project.” “Unfortunately,” he said, “the war in Ukraine shows us that the passionate quest of the politics of community and the strengthening of multilateral relations seems a wistful memory from a distant past. We seem to be witnessing the sorry sunset of that choral dream of peace.” “In the spirit of the founders of this organization and together with Pope Francis, we should ask ourselves — while thinking not least of war-torn Ukraine — where are creative efforts for peace?” Cardinal Parolin said. European leaders must keep in mind those who are suffering and dying in Ukraine, he said. “This is the time to take action and establish a definitive and just peace in Ukraine and in all the other so-called gray areas of Europe.” The Council of Europe describes as gray zones “areas where monitoring mechanisms cannot function freely or effectively.” They include Crimea, forcibly annexed by Russia in 2014; Transnistria, which is part of Moldova; and the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are internationally recognized as part of Georgia. In their declaration, summit participants called on the Russian Federation “to comply with its international obligations and to immediately withdraw completely and unconditionally its forces from Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. We reassert our unwavering support for their sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, within their internationally recognized borders.” Read More Crisis in Ukraine Bishops: Ukrainians ‘resist, trust, pray’ as Russia’s full-scale invasion turns 4 Ukrainian Church transformed by 4 years of war, Kyiv’s bishop says Russia’s war on Ukraine means ‘No Priests Left,’ documentary shows Pope renews ‘heartfelt appeal’ for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Russia-Ukraine war Shevchuk: Ash Wednesday collection has helped ‘resurrect’ Church in Ukraine Death is close; Jesus and his love are closer, say clergy in Ukraine war zone Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
