The Pope woke up with a cold this morning, after yesterday receiving a delegation from the Ukrainian Parliament who reiterated their request to visit the tormented country invaded a year ago by Russian troops. This was stated by the ambassador of Kiev to the Vatican, Andrii Yurasy “I think the time has come for the Pope to visit Ukraine and thus give a very clear signal to Russia that it must stop.”
In Ukrainian diplomatic circles it was commented that “the date on which the Holy Father I would go on a peace mission in our country”.
There have been no official comments in the Holy See, but some Vatican sources have underlined that “the Pope has not missed an opportunity to comfort the invaded and martyred Ukrainian people.”
Francis has said he wants to be able to visit the two countries in an apostolic journey for peace, but given the worsening of the war which coincides with the first anniversary of the invasion, this Friday some are not ruling out a gesture by the pontiff travel to comfort the Ukrainian people giving him a “formidable impulse of hope” and offering Russia the possibility of accepting a peace visit from the pontiff.
Mediation
Jorge Bergoglio returned to the issue on Wednesday and said: “Brothers and sisters, let us not forget the martyred Ukrainian people, who suffers so much. We remain close to them, with our feelings, our help and our prayers”.
The Pope had offered his mediation and good intentions to achieve peace. But the difficult negotiations with the Russians broke down a few months ago after Francis told Cyril, patriarch of all Russia and great adviser to the Russian president, that “one cannot become Putin’s altar boy”.
The Pope spent the day this Thursday in case of “strong cold” which prevented him from delivering two speeches prepared in as many audiences to the delegations he received at the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
Voiceless
“I can not talk”he explained as he received in audience young priests and nuns of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
The Pope gave them the speech that he was unable to deliver and he did the same when he received in audience a delegation from the famous scientific society Max Plancx.
Sunday Jorge Bergoglio he will begin a retreat with the other members of the Roman Curia. Their duties will be limited by the traditional spiritual exercises at the beginning of Catholic Lent, which will last until Easter.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.