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Nuncio Gugerotti on Pope’s gesture towards Ukraine: “To be beside Ukrainians”

06.04.2016, 09:51
Nuncio Gugerotti on Pope’s gesture towards Ukraine: “To be beside Ukrainians” - фото 1
This aid is obviously intended to all those who suffer from violence in the East , both to those who remained in those areas and those who left and were forced to move to the government-controlled areas.

Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti comments on the decision of Pope Francis to collect humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

On Sunday, April 3, before the prayer “Queen of Heaven” Pope Francis spoke of Ukraine, in particular, about those affected by war. The pontiff announced the collection of aid in all churches of Europe on Sunday, 24 April. Catholic Media Center asked the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine for a commentary.

Your Excellency, at the end of February and in March you visited the east of Ukraine. What are your impressions?

 I made two trips to the combat zone: the first – to Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, and the second - on Easter, to Donetsk. My impression is very depressing: in addition to the physical suffering, there are pain, fear, hatred, sense of powerlessness and instability. An example of this is the procession of suffering old women who walk in the rain a long way, cross the checkpoints to get some money and go home. I remember a child who forgot how to read and write, and another child, who was asleep in a chair, as he had no bed. I remember a young soldier in the hospital, who got his leg amputated and was crying, saying that his nerves were gone, he couldn't take it anymore. And then the shots, continuous shots at night. They have lasted a long time.

The life of the whole population is being destroyed, the physical and moral planes are being wrecked. However, there is a desire to get out of this horror, there are minor personal initiatives, acts of solidarity groups who manage some services. There is also a great strength, despite the violence the people are exposed to.

Tell us please about your last meeting with the Pope. What were the topics you discussed?

During my last meeting with Pope Francis, the topic of conversation was how to be present among so many people suffering in Ukraine, how to make them feel his warmth, respect of them, the desire to do everything possible to promote peace. During that meeting the Pope told me the details of the joint action, which he announced on April 3 across the world. He explained to me that with this gesture he wants to draw attention to the situation in Ukraine and encourage everyone at all levels to work more for the restoration of peace and law.

To whom specifically this assistance is intended?

This aid is obviously intended to all those who suffer from violence in the East , both to those who remained in those areas and those who left and were forced to move to the government-controlled areas. The Pope does not want to distinguish between Catholics and non-Catholics, believers and non-believers. All in need will have access to aid.

How will the aid be distributed?

We do not know yet the details of how things happen, the Secretariat of State and the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” are in charge. The Pope would like the greatest possible number of religious communities, Catholics and non-Catholics, indicate the priority of assistance. If they agree, as soon as these needs are determined, the necessary decisions will be made, and the Pope, who is going to know about them directly in Ukraine, will second his high representative in this connection. The Pope himself, in fact, has already allocated a large amount of money, which will be added as donations, which are being collected in the churches of Europe to make clear that  Europe stands for Ukraine, that Ukraine is Europe's gates.

Interview published in Ukrainian on the Catholic Media Center.

Translated by Julia Zubkova