The news arriving from Ukraine on a possible imminent outbreak of a conflict is ever more worrying. Last October Don Orione’s Work celebrated 20 years of its presence in Kiev. Through the voice of one of the Orione missionaries in Kiev, Father Moreno Cattelan, information is arriving on the situation the country is living.
Alarming News
“The news arriving in the mass media is alarming and creates an atmosphere of alert and worry. La Farnesina [Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs] has asked Italians to leave the country by way of precaution. The Ukrainian President and Government have asked many times over these days to keep calm and avoid panic. An atmosphere of terror is being created, which certainly doesn’t help the population. At present, it’s crucial to stay calm, united within the country, and to avoid destabilizing actions that create panic and division,” wrote Father Cattelan.
“Here in Kiev life goes on as every day — normal. Work, school, even though some classes are reduced or closed due to COVID. A protest is being organized in the Square. There is certainly the threat of war . . . but for the moment we are determined to stay. It makes no sense, in fact, to abandon our people now. We are here to create with the Ukrainian people an atmosphere of hope and confidence in the future,” he continued.
Tension Reaches the Stars
“In these last hours, the tension reaches the stars. We try to stay calm and reasonable, certainly ready for any scenario. We are sustained by reasonableness and the hope of peace! We invite all to prayer. To have the torch of hope lit. When the diplomatic way seems difficult, or downright impossible, we, Christians, know that history is guided by God. And it will be for God to touch the hearts of the powerful, of Governments leaders, of those that have decision-making power so that this conflict can also be resolved for the good of all. Thank you all for your care, shared concern, and prayer,” concluded Father Cattelan.
CEI’s Appeal
After the Pope’s umpteenth appeal at the Angelus, the presidency of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) was also invited to prayer. “What is happening at the border between Ukraine and Russia is worrying the whole world. The concrete risk of war, or also the theory that a conflict could break out, disturbs spirits, shakes consciences, adds worries to the many that humanity is already living due to the pandemic and the other “pandemics” across the planet: poverty, sickness, lack of schooling, local and regional conflicts . . . It’s everyone’s responsibility, beginning with the national and international political seats, not only to ward off the recourse to arms but also to avoid all hateful speech, all reference to violence, all forms of nationalism that leads to conflict,” reads a note.
There is No Longer a Place for Arms
There is no longer a place for arms in humanity’s history. It’s the conviction that moves us on the eve of the Meeting of Bishops and Mayors of the Mediterranean, which will be held in Florence from February 23-27.
People are called to coexist in peace. May cooperation and dialogue, accompanied by diplomacy, be the rule and style of international relations. And, on the day we remember Saints Cyril and Methodius, Co-Patrons of Europe, we appeal to our common roots in the Christian faith, which is a message of peace so that in the Old Continent there is always respectful coexistence, collaboration on the economic plan, and lasting respect and dialogue.
Peace is a precious good that humanity cannot and must not give up. We invoke our Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, and the Most Holy Virgin, particularly venerated in Ukraine in the Basilica of the Mother of God of Zarvanytsia, so that we are spared a terrible scourge. We invite all the Churches of Italy to unite themselves to this prayer intention.
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
