In the middle of the uproar in Europe caused by the discovery of bodies in Ukraine’s capital, and as Russian soldiers leave, Pope Francis blasted the “sacrilegious war” in front of 20,000 faithful in Valletta on his second and final day on the island of Malta.
“Let us not tire of praying and aiding those who suffer,” the Pontiff urged, referring to the “humanitarian tragedy of tortured Ukraine.”
The Pope’s latest sentence was issued the day after 20 citizens were discovered shackled on a street in Bucha, a city near Kiev.
The Russian army is withdrawing from Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, to bolster its military force ahead of a crucial second phase of the war, which will be fought primarily in the country’s east and south, along the Black Sea coast, and in Odessa, Ukraine’s architectural and cultural jewel with a million residents.
Francis made many stops in Malta on his journey to welcome the masses. EFE photo
Francis was welcomed in Floriana’s Granary Square, which is located on the outskirts of Valletta, Malta’s capital. The popemobile of Jorge Bergoglio made many stops to caress and bless the children, as well as kiss several babies accompanied by their parents.
The Pope urged the faithful in attendance, as well as the half-million Catholics who make up 85 percent of the island’s population, to be “tireless witnesses of reconciliation.”
“There is no such thing as an unrecoverable word for God because he is a God who constantly forgives, who continues to believe in us, and who offers us the opportunity to start over at any time,” he continued.
“There is no sin or failure that God, by presenting it to him, cannot convert into an occasion for us to begin a new, different life, in the sign of mercy,” the Pope said.
Bergoglio chastised people who go “in search of sinners” and “only denounce sins.” “We will not point fingers again,” he continued, “but we will begin to listen.” “We will not dismiss the despised; rather, we will prioritize those who are regarded as the last,” he continued.
Francis’ journey to Malta was attended by a large throng. EFE photo
Throughout his stay, the 85-year-old Pope shown signs of personal distress. The faithful who welcomed him said they recognized how much the discomfort in his right knee, where he had ligament inflammation, had affected him. In addition, he has sciatica.
The Pontiff, on the other hand, did not abandon his parishioners in the Plaza de los Graneros. He had already visited the grotto where Saint Paul sought sanctuary following a shipwreck on his way to Rome, where he ultimately arrived and was murdered by the governing authority in the year 64. He appealed for the acceptance of migrants in the grotto, recalling how the Maltese assisted Saint Paul in the year 60.
“No one knew their names, where they came from, or their social rank when Pablo and his shipwreck companions took refuge,” he continued, “but with human warmth.”
“Let our sympathy not be consumed in vain words, but rather spark the fire of welcome,” Francis prayed to God.
The Pope will speak with refugees in a center that welcomes them before returning to Rome this afternoon. Malta has been chastised by humanitarian organizations for its strict treatment of migrants, including its refusal to allow NGO boats to land in its ports.
According to the Maltese government, Malta has one of the highest rates of migrant reception in the European Union when compared to its population.
A German humanitarian organization demanded that Malta accept a hundred refugees rescued in Mediterranean waters near Libya this week.
Peace talks are ongoing.
The Vatican has learned that Francisco’s efforts to mediate for a humanitarian solution to the crisis are progressing after the Pope affirmed yesterday that “the trip to Kiev is on the table.”
According to certain accounts, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin is in talks with Patriarch Kirill’s collaborators, who represent more than a hundred million Russian Orthodox parishioners.
Kirill supported President Putin’s invasion on February 24, but believes that a discussion between the parties will allow peace to be established, and that the Pope of the Catholic Church may positively assist with his moral power.
The probability of a meeting between Francis and Patriarch Kirill has intensified in recent months, as the Catholic Church’s leader prepares to make his first historic journey to Moscow.
Efforts are currently being made to mobilize support for that viewpoint. In 2016, Francis and Kirill met in Cuba.
Through Beijing’s and the Vatican’s diplomacies, there are also private talks with Chinese authorities. According to a source, “it’s an extremely delicate matter” that cannot be jeopardized by leaks.
The Vatican’s goal is to ensure that Ji yi ping’s China, a close ally of Moscow, supports Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill in their efforts to bring an end to a war that is causing China numerous troubles.
Correspondent for the Vatican.