(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for constructive dialogue between
Institutions and civil society in Ukraine.
Addressing the crowds gathered
in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus Prayer, the Pope said he is praying for the
people of Ukraine, in particular for those who have lost their lives during the violence
of the past days, and for their families. He said he is praying the parties involved
will avoid resorting to violent actions, and that the spirit of peace and the quest
for common good may prevail.
Weeks of protests in Kiev have escalated into
violent clashes between police and demonstrators angry that the government didn't
sign a deal to bring it closer to the European Union.
Also in words after the
Angelus, Pope Francis noted that there were many children in the Square and said his
thoughts go to a three-year child, burnt to death by members of the Southern Italian
Calabria mafia after his grandfather failed to pay a drug debt to mobsters. This violence
against such a young child – he said – seems not to have precedents in the history
of criminality. “Let’s pray for Cocò” – Francis continued – “who is surely in heaven
with Jesus, and for those who have committed this crime: may they repent and convert
to the Lord”.
And, reflecting on the Gospel reading for the day which tells
of how Jesus began his public life in Galilee – a land of borders and of transit,
a peripheral region where men of different races, cultures and religions met. The
Pope pointed out that Galilee is similar to the world today: the presence of diverse
cultures – he said - means there is need for encounter. This kind of context – he
added – can frighten us and tempt us to build walls of protection. But Jesus – he
pointed out – teaches us that the Good News that he brings is for all – not just
for part of humanity.
And speaking of how Jesus chose his apostles among
the simple people, the fishermen whom he called to make “fishers of men” – the Pope
said “the Lord continues to walk the streets of our daily life calling us to go join
Him and to work with Him for God’s Reign, in the ‘Galilee’ of our times”. “Each one
you”- he said – “must realize that the Lord is watching you: if you hear Him saying
‘follow me’, you must have courage and go with Him. The Lord will never disappoint
you”.