The Pope: Ukraine was dragged into a "cruel and senseless" conflict

On Feb. 17, making his annual Easter "Urbi et Orbi" address, Pope Francis said the world was celebrating the "Easter of war", adding that Ukraine was dragged into a "cruel and senseless" conflict, reuters.com reported.

The pontiff dedicated much of the message to Ukraine, comparing the shock of another war in Europe to the shock of the apostles when the gospel says they saw the risen Jesus.

“Our eyes, too, are incredulous on this ‘Easter of war’. We have seen all too much blood, all too much violence. Our hearts, too, have been filled with fear and anguish, as so many of our brothers and sisters have had to lock themselves away in order to be safe from bombing,” said Pope Francis.

Earlier, the Pope urged to celebrate the Catholic Easter by establishing truce in Ukraine, adding that the Vatican is ready to do everything to achieve peace in Ukraine. It previously sent two cardinals to the region specifically for this.

As the UOJ reported earlier, a religious procession in Rome with the participation of a Ukrainian and a Russian was criticized in Ukraine.

Read also

In Spain, murderer moved to women's prison after claiming to be female

A Spaniard convicted of a series of brutal murders has secured a transfer to a women's prison allegedly based on a change of gender identity.

Georgian Patriarchate warns about fake social media pages

The Georgian Orthodox Church has stated that unknown individuals are using official symbols to create fake social media pages.

Court extends round-the-clock house arrest for Metropolitan Arseniy

The Chechelivsky Court of Dnipro left the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra under house arrest and allowed him to attend medical procedures without separate permission.

OCU shows number of parishioners in seized church of Bezuhlivka

About 15 people with flags stood at the first "service" at St. Michael's Church after the seizure.

In Kyiv, OCU and UGCC сhaplains given an introductory tour of synagogue

Ukraine’s chief rabbi said that clergy of the OCU, UGCC, and RCC familiarized themselves with Jewish tradition at a synagogue.

OCU outraged that Lepliavo parish removed church property before seizure

The Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU complained that after the fake “transfer” in Lepliavo, UOC faithful left them nothing but bare walls.