The news that this Friday, during the Way of the Cross Procession with Pope Francis, a Ukrainian and a Russian woman will hold the cross together during the XIII station, caused outrage in Ukraine. The Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, responded.
In a comment to the Catholic magazine Credo, the nuncio said he had already conveyed a reaction from Ukraine yesterday.
The Vatican's ambassador to Ukraine says he would not organize the prayer this way as reconciliation must come later:
"Reconciliation must come when aggression is stopped. When Ukrainians will be able not only to save their lives but also their freedom. And, of course, we know that reconciliation occurs when the aggressor admits their guilt and apologizes."
The Apostolic Nuncio says that it is unclear why we speak of reconciliation during the 13th Stations of the Cross, which will be led by Pope Francis at the Colosseum this year. The Vatican already knows about the reaction from Ukraine, he emphasizes. The nuncio adds that Vatican journalists are responding to the reaction of Ukrainians, emphasizing that this prayer is not a political act.
Under the cross of Jesus, good and bad, aggressors and victims are allowed, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas quoted Vatican commentators. This scandalous moment is also a prayer to Jesus to save everyone. To stop the aggressor and push him to reconcile. To save Ukraine, save human lives, save families, save children, save freedom, save temples, and save the Ukrainian people.
Archbishop Visvaldas urged us to look at this not from a political point of view but a prayerful one so that the Lord may grant us the grace of forgiveness in our hearts.
The Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine says that it is still possible to change "this sign".
It is possible that the plan for the Ukrainian and Russian women to stand together under the cross will be altered, as the Vatican has received a reaction.
"Let us wait and see the final version," said the Vatican's ambassador to Ukraine.
It should be noted that the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine did not leave Kyiv during the war that Russia launched against Ukraine, remaining with the Ukrainians under the bombarding.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the Vatican Andriy Yurash also said that the embassy is working on this issue, trying to explain the impossibility of implementing such an idea and the expected consequences.
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church also commented on the idea of this year's Way of the Cross Procession in the Colosseum. "I think this is an untimely idea," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk.