Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
Greetings from the first-throned Kyiv, from Ukrainian Kyiv.
Today I have some some good news for you. Today is 1 March 2022. That means that today is the beginning of Spring according to the meteorological reckoning.
Although white snow blanketed our capital, Spring is relentlessly coming to the land of Ukraine.
Just as a snowdrop that breaks through the snow to show its flower, so too, through the horrors of war, this day of light, of solemnity, of peace breaks through relentlessly and mightily for our land.
Today we are already experiencing the sixth day of a crooked and unjust war.
In these last waves, particularly in this night, we saw new horrors of this war.
We saw destroyed schools, kindergartens, cinemas, museums, and at sunrise near Kyiv, a rocket struck the maternity ward of a hospital. We ask ourselves “why?”. Women and unborn children. Why are they the innocent victims of this war?
But we are praying. We are standing. Together, we are a nation that builds and defends peace in Ukraine and throughout the world with the price of our own blood.
We pray for our soldiers. We pray for all those who support the fight for peace in Ukraine.
In these days we saw the heroism of our simple people. We lamented the victims of rocket bombing in Kharkiv. But yesterday we saw how the residents of the city of Berdyansk with bare hands cast out an army bearing weapons with the slogan “Berdyansk is Ukraine!” And above the city hall, the Ukrainian flag was left to wave.
Truly, the words of Christ are being fulfilled: “No one has greater love than this: that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]
We see that not hatred, but love conquers. Love gives birth to heroes, but hatred to—criminals.
That is why I encourage all of us: let us learn to love in this tragic time. Let us not be taken captive by hatred. Let us not use the language of hatred, nor its words. As ancient wisdom says, the one who hates the enemy is already overcome by him.
We will conquer with the power of love, for our homeland, for God, and for our neighbour.
Tomorrow, according to the call of the Holy Father, the whole world will be fasting and praying for peace in Ukraine. I call upon all the sons and daughters of our Church in Ukraine and throughout the world to prepare for tomorrow and spend the day in fasting and prayer.
I sincerely ask you: let us pray not only for peace in Ukraine, but let us pray for our enemies, for their conversion, for the conversion of Russia, as Our Lady of Fatima requested of us.
But today, I send you God’s blessing which is the transmission of the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit, the peace of Christ for all of us. May the blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for humankind, always, now and ever, and for ages of ages. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ!