- Cindy Wooden, Vatican City (Catholic News Service)
"With a heart wounded by the violence that ravages your land, I address you on this day of your national feast," Pope Leo XIV said in a message President Volodimir Zelensky. A text Zelensky has published on the X network. Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991.
"I wish to assure you of my prayers for the people of Ukraine who are suffering from the war, especially for all those who are bodily wounded, for those who have lost a loved one and for those who have been deprived of their homes," the Pope wrote to the president.
Pope Leo prayed that God may comfort the Ukrainian people, "strengthen the wounded and grant eternal rest to the deceased".
That the Lord may move hearts
The Pope also told the Ukrainian President that he continues to pray that the Lord "will move the hearts of people of good will. So that "the clamor of arms may be silenced and give way to dialogue, opening the way to peace for the good of all." "I entrust your nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace," the Pontiff wrote.
In releasing the Pope's message, Zelensky thanked "for his thoughtful words, prayers and attention to the people of Ukraine in the midst of a devastating war. All our hopes and efforts are placed on our nation to achieve the long-awaited peace. For goodness, truth and justice to prevail. We appreciate the moral leadership and apostolic support of @pontifex."
At the Angelus, worldwide prayer for Ukraine
After reciting the prayer of the Angelus This Sunday, August 24, Pope Leo also called attention to the worldwide prayer for Ukraine requested by the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religions.
"The past friday, august 22We have accompanied with our prayer and fasting our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of the wars. Today we join our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who, with the spiritual initiative 'World Prayer for Ukraine', ask the Lord to grant peace to their war-torn country," the Pope told thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Proximity to Mozambique
After praying the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV expressed his "closeness to the people of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique, victims of a situation of insecurity and violence that continues to cause deaths and displacement. As I appeal to you not to forget these brothers and sisters, I invite you to pray for them. And I express the hope that the efforts being made by those responsible in the country can restore security and peace in that territory."
"The narrow gate of the cross"
In its initial reflectionthe Pope has referred to the image of the "narrow door"used by Jesus to answer one who asks him if there are few who are saved. Jesus says: "Try to enter through the narrow gate, for truly I tell you, many will want to enter and will not succeed" (Lk., 24).
Certainly, "the Lord does not want to discourage us," the Holy Father pointed out. "His words, rather, serve to reject the presumption of those who feel sure of their salvation, of those who practice religion and, for that reason, are confident."
In reality, "they have not understood that it is not enough to perform religious acts if they do not transform the heart. The Lord does not want a cult separated from life, nor does he accept sacrifices and prayers that do not lead us to live love for our brothers and sisters and to practice justice".
Faith is authentic "when it embraces our whole life".
"Our faith is authentic when it embraces our whole life, when it is a criterion in the decisions we make, when it makes us women and men who are committed to the good and are able to risk for love as Jesus did," he continued.
"He did not choose the easy path of success or power, but in order to save us, he loved us even to the point of crossing the "narrow gate" of the cross. He is the measure of our faith; he is the door we must cross to be saved (cf. Jn 10:9).)We are to live his same love and to be builders of justice and peace with our lives.
Let us invoke the Virgin Mary, Pope Leo concluded, "so that she may help us to courageously pass through the 'narrow gate' of the Gospel, so that we may joyfully open ourselves to the breadth of God the Father's love."
