"I’d like to bring the pain, the strength and energy of Ukraine to France," - Archbishop Eric de Moulin-Beaufort
"I have come on behalf of all the bishops of France and on behalf of all the Catholics of France to show you our brotherhood. We try to share your pain with you. We are surprised at the strength of the Ukrainian people fighting against the enemy. We are surprised by the strong will to live in freedom, justice and truth," he said.
The Archbishop noted that in comfortable Western societies, they risk forgetting what a great value it is to form a nation and help each other in a friendship that is open to all people.
He said that since February 24, all churches in France have been praying for Ukraine every Sunday. "And we ask God to grant you peace, not the one that the attackers want to impose on you, but peace in truth and justice," the head of the conference of bishops of France wished.
"It was very important for me to come here... and we rejoice with you for the success of your Armed Forces," said Archbishop Eric de Moulin-Beaufort.
"You are fighting for the freedom of your state, but keep in mind that we are aware that you are also fighting for us. Because you are fighting for a high idea of what a nation is and what relations between peoples can be like in our Europe." the French hierarch assured.
He expressed his admiration for His Beatitude Sviatoslav regarding the beautiful speeches he delivers to the Ukrainian people daily during the war. These speeches are also being translated into French.
"And I am interested in science," he assured, "which forms the spirituality of wartime, how to conduct war as disciples of Christ. On our European continent, which has so often experienced wars, we did not have such science, and I thank God for His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s contribution."
Archbishop Eric de Moulin-Beaufort said that he would like to take with him to France the pain that is felt here but at the same time the strength and energy that are present in Ukraine.
"May God bless Ukraine and allow it to share its wealth with the whole of Europe," the French bishop wished.
As RISU has reported, on September 17, the delegation of the Conference of Bishops of France arrived in Ukraine for a two-day visit: Archbishop Eric de Moulin-Beaufort, Chairman of the French episcopate, and general secretary Fr. Hughes de Woilemont. They are accompanied by Bishop Hlib Lonchyna, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of St. Vladimir the Great in Paris.
