Nuncio to Ukraine: Despite two years of death, hope and faith

By Alessandro De Carolis

Fear persists, but apparently also faith to cling to, as well as the "grace" of being able to breathe occasionally, and the weariness of always rolling up our sleeves, while listening to those who "cannot understand how such a thing could happen in the 21st century."

In a wide-ranging interview, these are the sentiments conveyed by the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, on the two-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.  

In the interview, the Nuncio discusses the deep contrasts of two years of war, and the feelings, needs, and pain of a country that has survived, despite mourning and destruction, inside a 'tunnel,' where, at the moment, the light of peace is invisible.

Two years after the start of the full-scale Russian aggression, what is the real situation in Ukraine?

Obviously, the situation is one of great suffering. There are several thousand prisoners, who live, or rather survive, often in inhumane conditions, at least judging by the accounts of those who have returned home. Every morning I begin my prayer in union with them and with the children separated from their parents or legal guardians because I know they are living a hell, and except for very rare exceptions, there is no way to help them. There are those who live in regions close to the front line, mostly elderly or poor people, who do not dare or do not have the physical strength to seek fortune elsewhere. Moreover, they depend completely on humanitarian aid, including water and bread. And there is a whole network of priests, charity workers, and volunteers who are committed to creating a logistical network for transportation, sometimes for thousands of kilometers.

There are millions of boys and girls from all the eastern regions, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Zaporizhia, Kherson, who have not been able to go to school since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, that is, for four years they can study at most online. In some cities, underground schools are under construction, sheltered from frequent bombings.

Then there are the local collaborators of our Apostolic Nunciature in Kyiv, of whom every day I can never know if they will be able to come to work or not because during the very frequent alerts for air attacks, they remain blocked for hours wherever they are.

I myself notice that I have difficulty speaking for a long time with people who have not had the same experience: the impression is that we live in different worlds, where priorities are completely different. Not to mention the dead and the war wounded, the millions of displaced persons and refugees.

What news do you have about how people live in the areas where the conflict rages, in Kyiv, and in the westernmost parts of the country?

Those who live in cities near the front line, like Kherson, and also Kharkiv, are used to looking death directly in the eye. In this sense, Kyiv is in a more favorable situation because missile and drone attacks do not occur every day, and it has the "privilege" of a more robust anti-aircraft protection system. Having a moment of rest, even every other day, is a grace.

But closer to the front, people spend the minimum necessary time on the street, to go to church, receive supplies, and other urgent needs. A few days ago, I asked a Catholic priest from Kherson, "What do you miss the most?" He replied, "I miss having at least a few hours of silence, to walk calmly and to sleep."

What strikes you the most in the stories of those who return from the front?

I have been struck several times by what some soldiers have told me about prayer and faith during the most furious moments on the front. Here it is necessary to specify who the soldiers are: now everyone is a soldier, from the university lecturer to the specialist in new technologies, from the theater artist to the entrepreneur. Some of them show that they have a faith that even inspires me. More than once I have heard a testimony like this: "Throughout the time, under bombardment, in the trench, or in counterattack actions, I was praying continuously and felt Jesus by my side. Bullets and mines were whistling and exploding all around, but I remained alive."

Another category of stories that strikes me is that of ex-prisoners, provided they are still psychologically able to communicate with people. Here I will refrain from telling their stories because they are unspeakable and because I think it is better for them to tell them themselves when they can.

Do you see any glimmer of a possible diplomatic solution to end the ongoing conflict?

I would be happy to be wrong, but today personally I do not see any glimmers. But with the grace of God, everything can change in an instant, so our trust in the merciful Lord, when we pray, must be as full as possible. In any case, it should be noted that the most persistent attempts in this area come from that category of countries and international organizations that do not fully identify with any of the sides.

What role have the Churches played and are playing in supporting the population?

The support of the Churches is extremely important from a spiritual point of view. Such a fierce war arouses incredulity among people because they cannot understand how such a thing could begin in the 21st century. On the spiritual aspect, the military at the front and prisoners of war insist above all: for them, prayer is almost the only glimmer of hope they have.

There is a need to listen to people when they cannot understand how the Churches and the Holy See in particular fail to achieve the desired results with their respective initiatives. Many are convinced that "just a word from the Holy Father" would suffice to solve the difficulties. In dialogue with these people, we try to clarify that one can never be certain that certain humanitarian initiatives will bear immediate fruit.

Another area of action of the Churches is evidently that of humanitarian aid, and in this area, both the institutions of the Holy See with the Pontifical Almoner and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, as well as international charitable organizations. Local Churches, both Catholic and non-Catholic, are active.

Then there is the area of childhood: I know numerous parishes that provide their air-raid shelters for kindergartens. Finally, there are Caritas, Eparchies, and other organizations that provide medical and psychological assistance to families and young people. Sometimes I happen to see some bishops distributing aid and food in person. They do not do it for visibility but simply because there are not enough hands for everything.