Strong Vatican plea for peace in Ukraine

February 10, 2015

The Vatican has issued a strong caution against escalating the conflict in Ukraine.

In a statement released on February 10, Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, said that the Holy See is “following attentively” the news from Ukraine, and noted that “the Holy Father Francis has renewed his appeal for peace on several occasions.”

While asking prayers for peace in Ukraine, Father Lombardi said, Pope Francis has also “underlined the urgency of resuming negotiations as the only possible way out of the logic of mounting accusations and reactions.”

The papal spokesman went on to stress that the Pope’s appeal for peace was addressed to “all interested parties.” He said that the Pontiff was “trusting in the sincere efforts of each one to implement agreements reached by common consent and invoking the principle of international law.”

Father Lombardi concluded his statement by saying that the bishops of Ukraine are due in Rome later this month for their regular ad limina visits. Their presence, he said, would give Pope Francis the opportunity “to be directly informed on the situation of that dear country, to console the Church and those who suffer and to evaluate together paths for reconciliation and peace.”

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Declaration of the director of the Holy See Press Office on the situation in Ukraine (VIS)