On Palm Sunday, 13 April, a brutal attack occurred in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine says there’s nothing left to do but to turn to God, because no human force seems capable to stop the carnage and bring peace in the war-torn nation.
The city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, just 50 kilometers from the Russian border, became the site of a deadly missile strike, as two Russian ballistic missiles landed in the city centre around 10 a.m., right as the faithful were making their way to church.
The attack reportedly killed at least 35 people, including 15 children children, and injured over 100. The victims, many of whom were preparing to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week, instead found themselves looking for shelter.
In a statement to Vatican News, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, conveyed a sense of helplessness in the face of such senseless violence. “There’s nothing left but to turn to the Lord to defend us, because it seems that no other force is capable of protecting peace and life,” he said.
The Vatican Nuncio explained that many of the victims, were churchgoers of different Christian denominations who were going to church to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week, making the tragedy even more poignant. This year Churches of different celebrate Easter on the same date due due to the alignment of the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
At the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis prayed: May peace come at last to martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Myanmar, to South Sudan. May Mary, Mother of Sorrows, obtain this grace for us and help us to live this Holy Week with faith.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has also called on the international community to protect the victims from such aggression, and to hold the perpetrators accountable by all available means.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has also called on the international community to protect the victims from such aggression, and to hold the perpetrators accountable by all available means.
In a statement released on Monday the ecumenical group strongly condemned the attack, demanding that those responsible stop shedding innocent blood in pursuit of their territorial and political ambitions.
As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter WCC again prayed for an end to this violence, and for a conversion of minds focused on war to hearts seeking peace and the justice on which true peace is founded.
Sunday's attack on Sumy is the second large-scale strike with high casualties in just a few days. A little over a week ago, a deadly missile raid hit Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of the Ukrainian president, killing around 20 people, including nine children.
“A terrible Russian ballistic missile attack on Sumy,” wrote President Zelensky on Telegram. “Enemy missiles hit an ordinary city street, everyday life: houses, schools, cars on the road. And this happens on a day when people are going to church—Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem.”
“Horrific scenes from Sumy,” wrote NATO's acting spokesperson, Allison Hart, on social media. “Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people on this sacred day for many.”
The European Union ambassador, Katarina Mathernova, called the “horrible Russian attack” on Sumy “another in a series of war crimes.”
European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss future moves and possible fresh sanctions against Russia.
As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter WCC again prayed for an end to this violence, and for a conversion of minds focused on war to hearts seeking peace and the justice on which true peace is founded.
Sunday's attack on Sumy is the second large-scale strike with high casualties in just a few days. A little over a week ago, a deadly missile raid hit Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of the Ukrainian president, killing around 20 people, including nine children.
“A terrible Russian ballistic missile attack on Sumy,” wrote President Zelensky on Telegram. “Enemy missiles hit an ordinary city street, everyday life: houses, schools, cars on the road. And this happens on a day when people are going to church—Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem.”
“Horrific scenes from Sumy,” wrote NATO's acting spokesperson, Allison Hart, on social media. “Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people on this sacred day for many.”
The European Union ambassador, Katarina Mathernova, called the “horrible Russian attack” on Sumy “another in a series of war crimes.”
European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss future moves and possible fresh sanctions against Russia.
Source: Vatican News
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