What Has Pope Francis Said About Ukraine?

As of April 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has persisted for over a month. The ongoing conflict has already led to over 4.5 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing to neighboring countries in search of safety. It has also resulted in growing death and destruction. Leaders around the world continue to call for aid to Ukraine and for a stop to the fighting. One of the most prominent voices is that of Pope Francis.

Shortly after the invasion began, Pope Francis called for an end to the fighting. He proclaimed Ash Wednesday—March 2nd—a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Ukraine, and said that “those who wage war forget humanity: they do not start from the people; they do not look at the concrete life of the people, but put partisan interests and power in front of everything.”

Pope Francis continued to denounce individuals who fight wars, stating that “they rely on the diabolic and perverse logic of weapons which is the most distant from the will of God, and they distance themselves from the common people who want peace.”

As the conflict has progressed, Pope Francis’ messages have become more urgent and pointed, calling for a ceasefire and to let humanity and love resume.

He has recently implicitly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “Once again, some potentate, sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, is provoking and fomenting conflicts, whereas ordinary people sense the need to build a future that will either be shared, or not be at all.”

On Wednesday, April 6th, 2022, Pope Francis condemned the “massacre of Bucha”—an attack on a small town near Kyiv, where civilians were tied and shot at close range. The massacre resulted in bodies being put in a mass gravesite at a local church. A darkened and stained Ukrainian flag was sent to the Pope from Bucha, and during his speech he kissed the flag in a show of solidarity and peace.

Most recently, Pope Francis called for an Easter ceasefire during his Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter’s Square, pleading for “weapons to be laid down to begin an Easter truce, not to reload weapons and resume fighting, no! A truce to reach peace through real negotiations.”

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including Ukrainian refugees currently in need. Together with our partner agencies, we are working on providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees, as well as calling on governments around the world to provide immediate support to all Ukrainians in need of protection.

In the U.S., our national member, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is advocating for cease-fire zones so civilian populations can escape to safety. Our European office has asked European Union Member States to establish Temporary Protection Directives so that Ukrainian asylum-seekers be offered better protection across all EU countries. In countries bordering Ukraine, our member organizations are working to welcome and provide support to refugees fleeing the conflict. 

We rely on generous donations to continue our critical work, so consider making a donation to help make a difference in the lives of Ukrainian refugees today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.