The Pope points out that at this time, “we feel the full weight of the suffering of our human family, crushed by violence, war and so many injustices.” Yet, he writes, “May the Holy Spirit “transform us into true peacemakers”.

Newsroom (27/04/2022 07:45 PM Gaudium Press) Pope Francis sent an Easter greeting to the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, on the occasion of Easter which was celebrated last Sunday in some Catholic and Orthodox churches according to the Julian calendar:

“Dear brother! May the Holy Spirit transform our hearts and make us true peacemakers, especially for war-torn Ukraine, so that the great Easter passage from death to new life in Christ may be a reality for the Ukrainian people, who long for a new dawn that will put an end to the darkness of war,” Francis said in the message, posted on the Russian Orthodox Church’s website, Patriarchia.ru.

Invitation from the Pope

Pope Francis also invited them to pray for one another “to bear credible witness to the Gospel message of the risen Christ and of the Church as the universal sacrament of salvation,” so that all may enter the kingdom of justice, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The Pope points out that at this time, “we feel the full weight of the suffering of our human family, crushed by violence, war and so many injustices.” Yet, he writes, “we will continue to look with a grateful heart that the Lord has taken upon himself all the evil and all the pain of our world.”

During the war, Pope Francis has already spoken with Kirill. On March 16, a video call was held, also in the presence of Cardinal Kurt Koch, which discussed “the war in Ukraine and the role of Christians and their pastors to do everything possible to ensure that peace prevails,” the Vatican spokesman said in a statement.

An upcoming meeting between Francis and Kirill has been canceled as it “could cause too much confusion,” according to the Pontiff himself.

With information from Vatican News.

Compiled by Camille Mittermeier