"No one will ever force our people to surrender," — Statement of the ACCRO

11 March, 10:45

State

Members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations made a statement. They emphasize that Ukraine is bleeding but courageously stands for the right to be itself. And if it capitulated, then all of Europe would feel the horror of Russian aggression.

Statement of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations

We, members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations, whose faithful defend freedom and life itself on the front lines today, fight for human dignity and the future of the free world at the front and in the rear, categorically declare that no one will ever force our people to surrender.

Ukraine is bleeding, but it stands for the Truth, for the right to be itself. Stands bravely and irresistibly. And if it capitulated, then Europe, maybe the whole world would immediately feel it. They would feel it and shudder. Because this is a repetition of the crimes of Bucha and Irpen, this is the further destruction of cities and villages, and almost certainly not only Ukrainian ones, these are children who remained children forever, these are dozens and hundreds of tortured priests who preach God's commandments, not "Russian peace ", this is the triumph of evil on the whole planet.

We pray for peace every day. For the return of our soldiers from the front, hostages from captivity, refugees from abroad. For understanding between peoples and healing the wounds caused by war. But surrendering to the mercy of this enemy is not about peace. It is about the victory of slavery over freedom, darkness over light, about the supremacy of the right of the strong over the force of law. We have experienced this bitterly and repeatedly over the past centuries.

To capitulate to triumphant evil is tantamount to the collapse of the universal idea of justice, a betrayal of the fundamental instructions bequeathed to us in the great spiritual traditions.

Therefore, we bless and will bless our faithful for the defense of our country, we will pray for Victory over the enemy and just peace, and we will extend our hand to all people of good will who support Ukraine at this crucial time. We believe and know that we will never be alone in this.

"For the Lord loves a just judgment and will not abandon those who are faithful to Him. They will be preserved forever" (Ps. 36:28)

Tags: #Russian aggression against Ukraine #AUCCRO #Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio)