СОМЕСЕ Vice President: "Peace is about justice, not just a cessation of hostilities"

This was stated by Archbishop Antoine Hérouard of Dijon, Vice President of the Commission of Bishops of the European Union (COMECE), Vatican News reports.

The French archbishop emphasizes that the new geopolitical situation poses a serious danger not only for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe. First of all, this concerns the states directly bordering Russia: Poland, the Baltic and Scandinavian countries. However, other areas are also at risk because of the spread of fake information and interference in elections.

According to the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Dijon, Europe must take responsibility for its destiny: “In this context of a new global security architecture, we Europeans must also be able to defend certain principles and values that seem essential to us: the rule of law, respect for commitments and agreements, and respect for peoples." He noted that the Church, for its part, must take care of respect for the truth and clear formulations of ethical requirements.

“I think it is important to recognize the weight of situations and the truth of the words being used. This is an aggression of one country against another, against internationally recognized borders. That can never be acceptable,” said Archbishop Hérouard.

The representative of the European bishops emphasizes that peace cannot simply be the cessation of hostilities: it requires at least a minimum understanding of justice. “Otherwise, there will be no peace—only a pause foreshadowing another war. That is why COMECE has reaffirmed its closeness and solidarity with the Ukrainian people and the suffering they have endured over the past three years.”

Archbishop Hérouard noted that he had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine and visit the military cemetery in Lviv. According to him, Ukrainians are fully aware that their struggle for survival extends far beyond the borders of the country and concerns the whole of Europe.

“Moreover, they told me there had been too much suffering, too many deaths, too many wounded, and too many families separated to accept just any cessation of hostilities,” the French archbishop said, emphasizing that all the mentioned raises the question of truth and justice.