Bishop: the Pope is trying to save Ukraine

April 26, 2016

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishop of Paris expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for the special collection for Ukraine which, at the Pope’s behest, was taken up in Europe’s parishes on April 24.

“Ukraine is a country that is being destroyed, which the Pope wants to save,” Bishop Borys Gudziak said in an interview. “This is not only a humanitarian effort to help the suffering. It is also an effort to increase moral awareness in Europe, because if there isn’t a moral reaction Putin will not be forced to stop military action, so it’s an action of peace as well.”

According to the Holy See Press Office, over 500,000 Ukrainians are “urgently in need of food,” and over 1.5 million people have fled their homes because of the conflict there.

 

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Further information:

• Information on the situation in Ukraine ahead of the extraordinary collection in European Catholic churches (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope Francis Uncovers the Hidden and Forgotten Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine (UGCC)
• Papal appeal for Ukraine (CWN, 4/20)