After Odessa, the papal envoy goes to the east of Ukraine

In Odessa, the cardinal visited the Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Fatima, where he celebrated the morning Holy Mass. While in the Odessa Department of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Excellency left a short video message posted on the FB page of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine.

"Today is the feast of the Mother of God of Sorrow, who stood under the Cross," Cardinal Konrad said. "She did not shout, did not beat her fists on the ground, did not reproach God for what he had done to her son, but only looked and was full of grief. Today, widows, wives, daughters, and mothers of all who died and were wounded in Ukraine can and should become under this cross. Maybe at that point, they'll hear the words from the cross. They will hear what Jesus has to say to them. "Mother, here is your Ukraine. Ukraine, here is your Mother!» And then, when we stand under the cross with her, I am confident that miracles will begin to happen. For no one has yet been disappointed by those who have trusted in Jesus. Therefore, together with Maria, a cheerleader, we must say: Jesus, I trust you! May God bless Ukraine: in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen," the cardinal said.

While in Odessa, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity gave a commentary to Vatican Radio about the purpose of his fourth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of a large-scale war, carried out on behalf of Pope Francis.

"It is for the fourth time that the Holy Father sent me to Ukraine, but this time for a completely different purpose. I am now in Odessa, almost 3,600 kilometers from the Vatican. Traveling from the Ukrainian border in a northeastern direction, we visit places where there are monastic communities, priests, and volunteers who never left their faithful during the 200 days of the war. We came to establish our faith, give hope, be close to them, and be together with them. The situation is very difficult. Also this night, sirens often sounded, and there were also many dead again," Cardinal Krajewski said in Odessa.

Traveling to the south of Ukraine, the representative of the Holy Father had the opportunity to meet with a conference of Roman Catholic Bishops of Ukraine, which was held at a joint meeting in the sanctuary of the mother of God in Letichiv, Khmelnytskyi region. Along the route, Cardinal Krajewski also visits Caritas cells. The further path of the Papal alms distributor will pass through Zaporizhia to Kharkiv.