Pope on the shelling of Kyiv: Specific paths to end wars must be charted

Pope Francis. Photo: Vatican News

Pope Francis expressed sympathy for the victims of the missile strike on medical facilities in Kyiv and the airstrike on a school in Gaza, praying for the swift cessation of wars. This was stated in a special communiqué released by the Vatican on July 9.

"The Pope is deeply shocked by the escalation of violence. Expressing spiritual closeness to the innocent victims and the wounded, he hopefully prays that specific paths to end the ongoing conflicts can be charted soon," the Vatican reports.

As the UOJ previously wrote, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry expressed condolences regarding the missile strike on Kyiv.

Read also

Norway to ban social media for under-16s

Norwegian authorities intend to require social media platforms to verify users’ ages and ban access for children under 16 in order to safeguard their mental health.

Pashinyan calls on Armenian Church to reform and replace Catholicos

Armenia’s prime minister spoke of taxes for the Armenian Church, accused it of politicization, and proposed reforms, including replacing the Catholicos and increasing state oversight.

DESS registers "Ukrainian Interchurch Council"

The association has received official status and called for protecting the constitutional status of the family from Supreme Court rulings.

Conspiracy by archbishop and mayor against Met Tychikos exposed in Cyprus

The acting mayor of Paphos has testified to police that Archbishop Georgios instructed the former mayor to publicly smear the hierarch in order to conceal financial dealings worth millions of euros.

TRC abducts Archimandrite Rufin, monk of Odesa monastery

The clergyman was reportedly pulled out of a taxi in Odesa and taken to a training center near Kharkiv, where he is said to be now.

Surge in pilgrim numbers recorded on Mount Athos, administrator says

Amid wars and global instability, the number of pilgrims visiting Mount Athos has risen to as many as 1,500 per day, placing strain on monasteries and infrastructure.