Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has thwarted efforts by Pope Francis to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian Archbishop Borys Gudziak said on March 15.
International News
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Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a penitential prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica March 25, the Vatican said.
Displaced Ukrainians Find Shelter in Lviv Churches, Schools, Orphanage
The massive movement of women and children fleeing Russian bombardments in Eastern Ukraine has led hundreds of thousands of them to Lviv, less than 50 miles from the Polish border.
Kyiv Mayor Invites Pope to Visit as Sign of Solidarity, Witness for Peace
Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kyiv, Ukraine’s besieged capital, has invited Pope Francis and other religious leaders to come to the city and witness for peace.
‘Defend These Innocent Civilians,’ Says Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not invade Ukraine out of concern that NATO would encroach on his borders, but concern about “the disease of democracy that could spread like a virus, and that’s deadly for oligarchies and authoritarian rulers,” said the archbishop who serves as a “foreign minister” for the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Puerto Rico Religious Leaders Welcome Long-Awaited Debt Restructuring Plan
Religious leaders in Puerto Rico have welcomed a debt restructuring plan that will reduce the stress on the U.S. territory’s economy and called for more focused efforts to reduce poverty and prioritize economic development.
For Ukrainians in New York, TPS Rule Change Offers Hope
Kateryna Koval of Brighton Beach was relieved when she heard that the Biden Administration has extended the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) program to include Ukrainians living here in the U.S. who do not want to go back with the Russian invasion going on. “Good thing. It gives peace of mind,” she said.
Generosity in Action: Crisis Unites Hungarians to Common Cause
As thousands of refugees from Ukraine continue to cross over the Hungarian border, Budapest’s Keleti train station has become a central hub on their paths to escape violence and search for some sense of normalcy amid the chaos.
Vatican Diplomat Says Russia Has ‘Noted’ Offer of Mediation in Ukraine War
According to the Vatican’s top diplomat, Russia has “taken note” of the Holy See’s willingness to mediate between the Kremlin and Ukraine to put an end to the war, but has made no sign of wanting to take up the offer.
Analysis: How Pope Francis Could Lead a ‘Soft Power’ Push on Ukraine
As Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine rages on, it’s become a staple of anti-Putin rhetoric to insist that the “whole world” is united in its outrage. U.S. President Joe Biden, for example, has said that the prayers “of the entire world” are with Ukraine, and vowed that “the world will hold Russia accountable.”