Peace Pilgrimage to Kyiv, Ukraine
This week, I will be representing the Commission on a Peace Pilgrimage with other religious to Ukraine. This journey by an ecumenical group of spiritual leaders is in response to the appeal of Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, for religious leaders to come to Kyiv. We seek to create space and humanizing energy to enhance the protection of civilians, reduce violence, and accelerate an end to the war:
- We are here to be of service and in solidarity with those who are suffering as well as with our religious partners.
- We will participate in prayer and accompaniment.
- We hope for a wave of subsequent delegations whose presence will help to create the conducive space and energy for a just peace, creative nonviolent actions, and to end the violence.
By responding to a Ukrainian request for religious leaders to be present in Kyiv with the people of Ukraine, we are praying to stop the bombing, an end to hostilities and conflict, and for a just peace in Ukraine. We seek to generate spiritual presence and energy, to be in solidarity, and help to transform the conflict. This will be done through prayer, listening and attentiveness, pastoral accompaniment and solidarity with those who are suffering from injustice, assisting with local distributions of food or medical material, connecting religious and civil society leaders and wide-spread publicity. We hope this will encourage a wave of subsequent delegations, humanitarian assistance, effective diplomacy, and creative responses to strengthen the human community to persist in trying to save lives and end killing.
I am especially mindful of the actions of Pope Francis with his solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, and Russia and Ukraine in particular, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. "This Act of Consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace.” ( Letter to Bishops for The Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary—March 21, 2022)
We appreciate your prayerful support during these days of journey with the situation in the Ukraine.
