«I spoke with Pope Leo XIV. It was our first conversation, but it has already been very warm and of great thickness. I thanked his holiness for his support for Ukraine and all our people ». With a long post on his X account, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky he told his first phone call with the new pontiff, In the aftermath of Queen Coeli in St. Peter’s Square, during which the Pope launched an appeal against the wars, recalling in particular the beloved Ukrainian people and asking that as possible “an authentic, just and lasting peace is reached. In the post Zelensky continues: “I informed the Pope of the agreement between Ukraine and our partners, according to which, starting today, a complete and unconditional fire must start a cease for at least 30 days”writes the president. “I also reiterated the availability of Ukraine to further negotiations in any format, including direct interviews – a position that we have repeatedly underlined”. And finally, the invitation addressed to Leone XIV to visit Ukraine soon.
Peace. Invuced with a firm voice and clear and decisive words. It started like this, with the appeal at the end of the war and in search of peace in the various world contexts, from Ukraine to Gaza to Kashmir, the pontificate of Leone XIV. «I am convinced that Leo XIV will be a brave pope, because he looks in the footsteps of Christ who precede him. He will be a Pope who will be able to follow and bring the truth. This pontiff is made very close to us Ukrainians. Our people felt embraced by their simplicity in being by our side. And this gives us so much hope. Because our voice, our cry also comes to God through his apostles. The drama of inhumanity has no right to exist and must be stopped ». To speak is Monsignor Maksym RyabukhaGreek-Catholic Bishop of the Donetsk exarchate, in East of Ukraine, while, in one of his almost daily pastoral visits in the most tormented areas of Donbas, in the villages close to the front, he heads towards Kramatorsk. Sunday 11 May iThe Salesian Bishop has inaugurated and consecrated to Kryvyi Rih a Niovo Rifugio, a safe space to welcome children and parents, called “cave”, Built at the Greek-Catholic parish of San Nicola Taumaturgo, thanks to the collaboration of the Greek-Catholic Church and many beneficial organizations.
“Certainly that of Leone XIV is a message of hope,” continues Monsignor Ryabukha. «Evil fails when it is called with its name. Talking out loud, openly to say what’s going on is very important. Often, in wars, human dignity is not found, but one’s interests. Reiterating that we must pursue authentic, just and lasting peace is very significant. Defense human rights and true peace is the task of every Christian and we must set off together to bring light into human hearts ».
Regarding the Pope’s appeal for the liberation of prisoners of war and for the return to their homes of Ukrainian children deported to Russia, the Bishop comments:«The call made by Leone XIV is very important and has been read in the key to political, diplomatic, spiritual support. There are many Ukrainian families who are no longer anything about their loved ones, missing. They don’t know if they are dead, if they are in Russian prisons. The families of the missing try to keep the attention of politicians on this drama through the square events, To invoke, encourage the search for their family members. The drama of imprisonment and torture is that human life is crushed, it is an immense pain, because it breaks an existence forever. The stories of the soldiers who return from imprisonment, where they have suffered torture, are terrible, make shiver. The deportation to Russia of Ukrainian children, who are entrusted to Russian families, is an inhuman act, which must be absolutely stopped. In front of my eyes there are all those children who in these three years have seen their parents die under the bombings. It has happened in many parts of the country, from Mariupol to Kherson, from Sumy to Mikola. He is heartbreaking. And it is terrible to feel torn by one’s culture, feel hated and guilty because they belong to a people who want to live, See your own, annihilated history, become an object in the hands of others. We have to say aloud that this drama exists and that we cannot turn our gaze on the other side. So, I want to thank the Pope because it is a voice of all those who have no voice ».
(In the photo: Monsignor Maksym Ryabukha at the inauguration of the new refuge for children and parents in Kryvyi Rih)
