On this day that Pope Francis has declared a day of fasting for peace in Ukraine, he had a special word of thanks for the Polish people who have offered their support to the hundreds of thousands of refugees now in their country.
But beyond that, at the general audience of March 2, there was a concrete reminder of what the Pope said last Sunday, that “those who wage war forget humanity. … they do not look at the real life of people … they distance themselves from ordinary people, who want peace, and who – the ordinary people – are the real victims in every conflict, who pay for the follies of war with their own skin.”
That is because Marek Viktor Gongalo, the priest who gives the summary of the Holy Father’s audience address in Polish, is himself Ukrainian. Here is what the Pope said:
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I cordially greet all Poles. You were the first to support Ukraine, opening your borders, your hearts and the doors of your homes to Ukrainians fleeing the war. You are generously offering them everything they need to live in dignity, despite the drama of the moment. I am deeply grateful to you and I bless you from my heart!
And this Franciscan friar who is speaking now, in Polish: well he is Ukrainian! And his parents are right now in shelters underground, defending themselves from the bombs, in a place near Kiev. And he continues to do his duty here, with us.
By accompanying him we accompany all the people who are suffering from the bombings, his elderly parents and many elderly people who are in the underground to defend themselves. We carry in our hearts the memory of these people. And [addressing him] thank you for continuing in your work.
On Tuesday, the UN Refugee Agency said that some 660,000 refugees had fled Ukraine, but this number is increasing by the hour. According to their report, those crossing into Poland had been waiting at the border for up to 60 hours in freezing conditions. Most arrivals are women and children.
And today we celebrate...