The Pope said the bombings of children’s hospitals and civilian targets during the Russian invasion of Ukraine are “barbaric” and “have no compelling strategic reason.”
The 85-year-old said that Ukrainians were being killed and that he was “begging for an end to the war” in his Vatican address Sunday.
Pope Francis addressed the crowd in St. Peter’s Square this morning and said: “In the name of God, let the cry of the suffering people be heard and let the bombings and attacks stop.”
“In the name of God, I ask you to stop this massacre.”
Pope Francis (pictured at the weekly Angelus service) said Ukrainians were being killed by turning cities like Mariupol into cemeteries and called for a stop to the Russian invasion
Crowds gathered to show support for Ukraine (pictured) during Pope Francis’s midday “Angelus” prayer at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Many signs and flags calling for peace were put on display as Pope Francis led the reading of the Angelus Prayer, in which he called the Russian invasion “barbaric.”
The head of the Catholic Church prayed to the Virgin Mary and the city that bears her name – Mariupol.
According to him, Mariupol has become a city of martyrs in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
More than 1,500 people died in the besieged city, and the deputy mayor said the area was “completely destroyed”.
Thousands of its inhabitants are left without food, water, electricity and heat, as merciless shelling of shops and residential apartments continues.
Russia on Wednesday blew up a children’s and maternity hospital in Mariupol, killing at least three people, including a six-year-old girl.
Pope Francis called for an end to armed aggression before it turns “cities into cemeteries” and expressed his horror at the “barbaric” killings of children, innocent and unarmed civilians.
“It is with pain in my heart that I join the voice of ordinary people who are pleading for an end to the war,” he said.
“Let there be a real and decisive focus on the negotiations, and let the humanitarian corridors be efficient and safe.”
The head of the Catholic Church asked the audience to silently pray for the suffering in Ukraine
Crowds displayed various posters (pictured) reading “Peace” in various languages as they waited for Pope Francis to start praying.
Pope Francis called for an end to armed aggression and condemned the “barbaric” killings of children, innocent and unarmed civilians.
This was the third address of the Pope to Angelus, in which he called for peace after Russia declared war on Ukraine.
In his Angelus Address to the World, Pope Francis asked to welcome the refugees while expressing his gratitude for the huge network of solidarity that exists.
He also asked that all diocesan and religious communities intensify their efforts in prayers for peace.
He added: “God is only a God of peace, he is not a God of war, and those who support violence desecrate his name.”
In conclusion, he asked everyone in the square to silently pray for the suffering and that God turn their hearts to a firm will for peace.
In his last address, the Pope said: “Rivers of blood and tears flow in Ukraine. This is not just a military operation, but a war that sows death, destruction and suffering.”
The words “Russia” and “Ukraine” are part of a banner praising peace displayed by the faithful during Pope Francis’s noon Angelus prayer.
Pope Francis said from the window of the Apostolic Palace (pictured) that great attention should be paid to the negotiations and humanitarian corridors.
Last week, the Catholic leader also sent two cardinals to Ukraine, in the unusual step of declaring “the Holy See is ready to do whatever it takes to serve the cause of peace.”
Papal alms, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, a Polish priest, was sent with help along with Cardinal Michael Czerny, head of the papal office, which deals with migration, charity, justice and peace.
In his February 27 speech, the first since the invasion began, Pope Francis continued to focus on humanitarian corridors and innocent civilians.
He said: “Those who make war, those who provoke war, forget humanity. They do not come from the people, do not look at the real life of people, but put party interests and power above all else.
“They believe in the devilish and perverted logic of weapons, which is the furthest thing from the will of God. And they distance themselves from ordinary people who want peace and who are the real victims in every conflict, who pay with their own skin for the follies of war.
“I think of the elderly, of those seeking asylum during these hours, of mothers fleeing with their children… These are brothers and sisters for whom humanitarian corridors must be urgently opened and who should be welcomed.”
The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline APPEALS OF REFUGEES IN UKRAINE
Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown great generosity in times of crisis.
Invoking this human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine.
For, of course, no one can help but be touched by the heartbreaking images and stories of families – mostly women, children, the infirm and the elderly – fleeing the invading Russian armed forces.
As the number of suffering increases in the coming days and months, these innocent victims of the tyrant will need housing, schools and medical care.
All Mail Ukraine Appeal donations will be distributed to charitable and humanitarian organizations providing such important services.
In the name of mercy and compassion, we call on all our readers to donate quickly and generously.
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