POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVES OF IRAQI CHURCHES – CARDINAL PAROLIN: “HOLY SEE READY TO FACILITATE NEGOTIATONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE” – WE WILL NOT ABANDON THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE

I wrote a Ukrainian friend of mine two days ago, a journalist I met when we were covering Pope Benedict’s trip to Lebanon in 2012, to assure him of my prayers for his people and country. He no longer lives in Ukraine but does have family and friends there and he wrote: “Thank you very much for your support. Everything you see on TV is true. We are on the edge of a humanitarian catastrophe and really hope that the world community will react ASAP and help us to stop this war. Please, stay with Ukraine!!!”

I am hearing wonderful stories of how the Polish people are welcoming the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees arriving in their country, mostly women and young children older males as able-bodied men aged 18 to 60 must remain in Ukraine.

One Polish journalist who covers the Vatican posted this today: “I am in Poland, where there is a great mobilization. Without divisions: political, ideological, historical. The Poles help everyone who arrives at the border (pretty (much) women and children). Everyone who has a little space, a bed in the house, even in the small apartment where he lives, invites a family, a refugee. There are many priests who, during Sunday masses in small and large parishes, invited them to give this help. For these faithful it would be very encouraging to hear a fraze (sic) of appreciation from the Vatican. Even if they are sometimes believers and sometimes non-believers. Here is the Fraternity, not only in faith but in humanism “

POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVES OF IRAQI CHURCHES

Meeting a delegation of Iraqi Church religious leaders on Monday, Pope Francis encouraged the local Christian communities to continue promoting dialogue so as to build fraternity and counteract extremism and fundamentalism. They were visiting Rome on the occasion of the first anniversary of his Apostolic Journey to the country in March 2021.

By Lisa Zengarini (vaticannews)

Courageous witnesses of the Gospel

In his address to the delegatio , the Holy Father recalled that Iraq is the cradle of civilization and of Christianity, remarking that it has also been a land of exiles since biblical times. Referring to the tragic events of these recent years, he expressed his deep gratitude to the Christian communities of Iraq for their “courageous witnesses of fidelity to the Gospel” amid persecution.

“I bow before the suffering and martyrdom of those who have preserved the faith, even at the cost of their lives. Just as the blood of Christ, shed out of love, brought reconciliation and made the Church flourish, may the blood of these many martyrs of our time, belonging to different traditions but united in the same sacrifice, be a seed of unity among Christians and a sign of a new springtime of faith.” Pope Francis receives representatives of Iraqi Churches – Vatican News

CARDINAL PAROLIN: “HOLY SEE READY TO FACILITATE NEGOTIATONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE”

The Cardinal Secretary of State speaks with Italian journalists: “To widen the conflict would be a gigantic catastrophe.”

By Vatican News

Cardinal Pietro Parolin warned that the spread of the Ukrainian conflict into the rest of Europe would be a “gigantic catastrophe,” whose prospect makes one shudder. The Vatican Secretary of State made the remarks in an interview with four Italian newspapers (Il Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, La Stampa and Il Messaggero).

He called for the avoidance of any military escalation, an end to the violence, and the opening of peace talks, insisting, “it is never too late” for negotiation. He said the Holy See is “ready to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.”

The cardinal addressed the possibility of the conflict spreading to other European countries in view of the decision by western nations to send weapons to Ukraine. “I don’t even dare think about it,” he said. “It would be a catastrophe of gigantic proportions, even if, unfortunately, it is not an outcome that can be completely excluded.” He took note of statements “in recent days that have evoked the incidents that preceded and provoked the Second World War,” saying, “These references make one shudder.” Parolin calls for escalation to end and negotiations to begin – Vatican News

WE WILL NOT ABANDON THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE

In the wake of the Russian invasion, many Ukrainians feel abandoned. But as the war continues, there has also been an eruption of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, from Europe and around the world. The Pope has called for a day dedicated to closeness with the suffering of the Ukrainian people: “God is with the peacemakers, not with those who use violence!”

By Sergio Centofanti

Many Ukrainians have felt abandoned in these dramatic days. They do not want to hear about the “price of gas,” because they feel they’ve been sold out. They know that an external intervention could trigger a much bigger conflict, devastating for the world. Belarusian President Lukashenko has even said that sanctions could push Putin towards nuclear war – a scenario we would not even want to think about.

But in the face of the Russian attack and nightmarish threats, solidarity is growing. The invasion of a free country has united Europe as never before. Europe, so divided on so many issues, has never been as united as it is today: it stands by the Ukrainian people. Neighbouring countries have opened their borders to the refugees: Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia have opened their arms. Other countries are ready to host those forced to flee. Demonstrations and initiatives for peace and solidarity with Ukraine are taking place in Europe and on other continents. We will not abandon the Ukrainian people – Vatican News

TONGA RECONNECTS TO THE WORLD – HOW ITALY COULD BE IMPACTED BY RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE

TONGA RECONNECTS TO THE WORLD

I got some wonderful news this morning from half way around the world   – an email from my friend, Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi, bishop of Tonga! The instant I knew of the underground volcano explosion that cut the islands off from the rest of the world in January, I wrote him to say I was stunned by the news but wanted him to know that I and countless others were praying for Tonga and its people. I told him I knew he would probably not see my message for a while!

The cardinal assured me that prayers were appreciated by all, and that Tongans have been recovering well, assisted by people and organizations within and outside the country. Many lessons of God’s grace can be learned when such help comes forth in tragic times, wrote Cardinal Mafi. His message was positive and uplifting and his thoughtful and kind words really made my day!

By the way, when I first met the cardinal in Rome, I was fascinated by his name. When I said it aloud (I love languages and etymology), I thought I knew what it meant. I asked him and indeed his name means John the Baptist.

This photo from the Catholic Herald was taken when we both attended a Saints Damien and Marianne Conference in Honolulu in October 2018, The cardinal presided at the opening Mass and we both gave talks during the conference. I interviewed him as well for Vatican Insider.

HOW ITALY COULD BE IMPACTED BY RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE

The first word I saw today on how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could impact Italy was the immediate increase here in the prices of gas, oil and wheat, with sticker shock hitting those who had to fill their gas tank at a local station.

I’ve seen a lot of TV today, including news from U.S., French, German and British sources. I’ll be riveted to TV and radio reports in coming days and will try to keep you posted on how our lives may be affected by Russia’s action.

I do not have a car but the Vatican building in which I live uses oil for heating (6 months a year but we pay that over 12 months, along with our rent and other expenses), and I have a gas stove and oven. Other appliances are electric and, for the moment, my contract with the gas and electric company precludes price hikes. Let’s wait and see….

I subscribe to thelocal.it, a wonderful online source of information for expats living in Italy. Here is a link to a report they published today: EXPLAINED: How Italy could be impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (thelocal.it)