The European bishops call for peace for the tormented Ukraine. On September 14, a day of meditation and prayer is celebrated throughout Europe to ask for an end to the conflict that has seen Russia and Ukraine warring for months. To make the announcement Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, president of the European bishops, who specified that the day will be a long one Eucharistic adoration. In all Episcopal Conferences of Europe Liturgical aids and plans for reflection were prepared to live this important moment in perfect spiritual communion.
The bishops invoke peace
The European bishops have repeatedly joined their voice to that of Pope Francis to invoke peace on Ukraine. Since the war conflict, the European episcopates have formed a network of solidarity to help the victims of war. Last August, Archbishop Grušas himself brought the solidarity of all European bishops to Ukrainian soil. The decision to celebrate this day on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross follows the decision of the Ukrainian Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference to declare 2022 theYear of the Holy Cross.
Ukrainian bishops of the Latin rite are also mobilized
This is how the Ukrainian bishops of the Latin rite put it: “Starting from February 24, since the Russia attacked Ukraine, we are walking along a painful via crucis, on which innocent people suffer, wounded and killed, there is a lot of evil, a lot of suffering! At this moment we feel stronger than ever what violence against the innocent is. Now more than ever we understand Jesus Christ in his Via Crucis, we understand his suffering ”. The Year of the Holy Cross ends with a solemn holy liturgy and the Via Crucis, which will be attended by all the Roman Catholic bishops of Ukraine on September 14, 2022. The rite will be held in Shrine of the Passion of the Lord in Sharhorod, on the European Day of Prayer for Ukraine.
The Pope's appeal
Papa Francesco he asks each “to be a builder of peace and to pray that thoughts and projects of harmony and reconciliation may spread throughout the world. Shut up arms, put an immediate end to the war in Ukraine and work for peace ”.
