The Catholic bishops of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland have appealed for all to do everything they can to help end the suffering in Ukraine, “in the face of the shocking loss of life, bloodshed, displacement of people and destruction of property”.
They spoke as more than 15,000 people from throughout England, including the Apostolic Nuncio, are expected to join a rally at Trafalgar Square tomorrow organised by the Ukrainian community.
The rally follows another day of escalating conflict when Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces shelled Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant and then seized control of the plant. None of the reactors were damaged.
After meeting in London today, presidents and vice-presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland said: “We ask our Catholic communities to sustain the prayer and self-denial of Lent as a constant offering to God, begging for an end to this pointless violence.
“We ask our fellow Christians everywhere, including Patriarch Kirill and all in the Russian Orthodox Church, to join in solidarity with us in daily spiritual and practical efforts for a ceasefire, for humanitarian outreach and the silencing and laying down of weapons.
“We ask all who have an instinct for God to raise their hearts and minds in prayer for peace.
“We urge everyone to open their hearts and respond generously to the many appeals for help and support for all who are fleeing their homeland. We call on the UK and Irish governments to offer an open and generous welcome to those who seek refuge in the face of this warfare.”
The appeal was made by Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, Bishop of Aberdeen Hugh Gilbert, Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell and Bishop of Paisley John Keenan.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, will be among those attending a rally in Trafalgar Square, London at midday in support of Ukraine and urging people to stand With Ukraine.
The rally will start with a short prayer for Ukraine and those who will bring peace to Ukraine, led by Archbishop Gugerotti, who will assure those who stand with Ukraine and those who have family and friends in Ukraine that the Pope is remembering them in his prayers.
Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop for Ukrainian, Belarusian and Slovak Eastern Catholics in this country will accompany him and it is expected that other Christian Leaders in Great Britain will also be present at the rally. They will join the leaders and members of “Euro-Maidan”, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, the Ukrainian Women’s Organisations in Great Britain the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in Great Britain along with many others.
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