Prayer for peace in Kyiv was led by Auxiliary Bishop of Rome

On Thursday, July 2, 2015, the traditional monthly prayer for peace was heldat St. Alexander cathedral (RCC), organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio, which brought together representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) together in a common prayer for peace.

The cathedral was filled with a large number of pilgrims from Italy, who arrived in Ukraine to show their solidarity with our people.

The group of pilgrims from Genoa and the prayer of the day were led by bishop Matteo Zoppi, who is the spiritual father of the Community and a member of many international peace negotiations. In his speech, he repeatedly emphasized that peace is the most important thing. Moreover, justice is possible only in peace, without in any way. Peace is the only way to avoid paying with one’s most important thing - life.

In comments to RISU Zoppi said that today in Ukraine he observed great suffering, but saw hope and desire to build peace.

“The only way to achieve peace is to continue the dialogue. Because during the war one cannot talk, the war silences and violence will never lead to peace. The only way to peace is the dialogue, but this requires courage,” bishop Matteo said.

All those present prayed for peace in Ukraine and worldwide nominating countries where there are wars and conflicts.

Commenting on the event Chair of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Ukraine Yuri Lifanse said:“Today’s Prayer is a joint prayer with the Community of Sant’Egidio from Genoa. This is a very old community, one of the first after the Roman one. This year they chose Ukraine as a place of pilgrimage because they wanted to show their solidarity and be with their brothers and sisters who are suffering today.’

The community chair said that it was a great joy for us to see them close, because they are accompanied by Bishop Matteo, he is the Auxiliary Bishop  of the Vicar of Rome, one of the first people in the community, so for us he is theelder brother, from whom we learn.

“This is the person who is committed the world, he devoted a lot of time and served an intermediary in many highly complex negotiations. The most famous of which were held in Mozambique when they were trying for two years trying to reconcile the two parts of Mozambique and managed to stop the civil war that had lasted for 10 years,” the community head says. This was reported by RISU journalist Irina Ryndych.