Pope Francis denounces “rivers of tears and blood” in Ukraine
Pope Francis after the Angelus prayer, in St. Peter's Square, Sunday, March 6, 2022. AP - Andrew Medichini
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The Sovereign Pontiff denounced on Sunday March 6 the cruelty of the war which is destroying Ukraine and pushing its population to exodus.
The bishop of Rome also pleaded for the opening of humanitarian corridors in order to relieve Ukrainian civilians.
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With our correspondent at the Vatican,
Éric Senanque
With serious accents, reminiscent of those of John Paul II in 1999 during the war in Kosovo, Pope Francis commented on the war that is devastating Ukraine, taking care to weigh his words.
“
In Ukraine flow rivers of blood and tears
,” he said.
It is not just
a military operation, but a war
, which sows death, destruction and misery.
The number of victims is increasing, as are the people fleeing, especially mothers and children.
The need for humanitarian aid in this tormented country is increasing dramatically by the hour
.”
Guaranteed access in besieged areas of Ukraine
The pope demanded the opening of humanitarian corridors, and asked that access be guaranteed in the besieged areas of Ukraine.
Pope Francis also wanted to thank the journalists who in the field put their lives on the line to guarantee information, precious information that "
allows us to be close to the drama of this population, allows us to assess the cruelty of a war
”.
The Holy See is willing to do everything to put itself at the service of peace finally recalled the pope who announced that he had sent two cardinals to Ukraine, one to the Polish border, the other to the Hungarian border.
Pope Francis had asked on Sunday February 27 "
that the weapons be silent
" in Ukraine, claiming to have "
his heart bruised by what is happening
" in this country invaded by Russia.
“
God is with those who seek peace, not with those who resort to violence
,” he said after his traditional public prayer at the Angelus in Saint Peter's Square.
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