Pope: Let us pray for dear Ukraine

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Let us pray for dear Ukraine, and the Ukrainians, so sorely tried by war...

This was the latest appeal Pope Francis made for the war-torn nation at the conclusion of his Wednesday General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

In his remarks to Italian-speaking pilgrims, the Holy Father turned his thoughts to the young, the sick, the elderly and newlyweds, recalling the apostle Saint Bartholomew, whose feast the Church observes tomorrow. He prayed for his interecession to "help them be witnesses of Jesus."

He urged them to bear suffering with faith.

"To the intercession of St Bartholomew we entrust dear Ukraine, so sorely tried by war. Brothers and sisters, let us pray for the Ukrainians."

War is cruel, so many lost

"War," Pope Francis insisted, "is cruel! So many children gone, so many people dead."

The Pope appealed for prayers, and to remember "tormented Ukraine."

He acknowledged that today, 23 August, is Ukraine's National Flag Day, "a significant date for their country," whereas tomorrow, 24 August, marks the country's independence day (24 August 1991). 

Also during the Pope's earlier remarks to Polish-speaking pilgrims, the Holy Father remembered Ukrainians in his prayers as well. He also recalled the upcoming Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa on 26 August. The day marks a major feast in Poland given the great devotion to her and the massive numbers of pilgrims who visit the shrine dedicated to her there.

The Pope prayed that this devotion might further bring forth the love of the Polish people for their neighbouring Ukrainians, blessing them all from his heart.