Pope Leo XIV meets with a gaggle of 32 younger women and men from Ukraine, who offered the Pope with a framed photograph of one in all their classmates who was killed final 12 months in a bombing.
By Isabella H. de Carvalho and Svitlana Dukhovych
“It was unbelievable. I’d say that even now I’m not absolutely conscious of all the things that occurred,” Tetiana, 17, instructed Vatican Information, describing the emotional second when, along with 31 different younger Ukrainians, she was in a position to meet Leo XIV in the course of the Wednesday Normal Viewers, 11 June, in St. Peter’s Sq..
The younger individuals have been in a position to get pleasure from days of serenity and lightheartedness, removed from air raid sirens, bombs, and violence, and had the chance to take a photograph with the Pope.
The group belongs to the Greek Catholic Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis and one of the crucial broken by the battle, as it’s located only a few kilometres from the border with Russia.
Because of the relations between the Greek Catholic Exarchate of Kharkiv and the native Caritas affiliation with varied Italian humanitarian organizations, for the second consecutive 12 months a visit has been organized that brings younger Ukrainians to Italy for 3 weeks, from 8 June to five July, throughout which they can go to Rome, Como, and Ponte di Legno in Lombardy.
On Tuesday evening, whereas Kharkiv was as soon as once more hit by Russian drones—inflicting a minimum of three deaths and over 60 wounded, together with 9 kids—these younger individuals, aged between 10 and 17, have been in a position to spend time away from the battle, and expertise the closeness of the brand new Pope, whose first phrases after being elected have been an enchantment for peace.
Pope’s assist in praying for Ukraine
“Seeing the Pope in individual is already an awesome factor. However being in the identical photograph with him is one thing I actually couldn’t think about. These are feelings that can not be expressed in phrases,” says Vitaliy, 15.
For Sister Oleksia Pohrsnychna of the Congregation of St. Joseph, who has been serving at St. Nicholas Cathedral since 2018, seeing the emotion on the faces of the youngsters in entrance of the gang in St. Peter’s Sq. was a second of nice pleasure—as was the “assist” she felt from the Pope after they had the chance to greet him after the viewers. “He instructed us, ‘I all the time pray’,” explains the nun, “a very transferring scene.”
When a volunteer from the Diocese of Como’s Frontiere di Tempo (Frontiers of Peace) initiative, who was accompanying the group, instructed the Pope, “Don’t neglect Ukraine,” his response was categorical: “No, by no means,” says Nicola Gini, additionally a volunteer with the identical organisation.
Nicola says he was struck by the look a number of the younger individuals gave to the sky after they heard the sound of an airplane flying over St. Peter’s Sq.. “You may see what they have been pondering of their eyes. They actually really feel the oppression of this conflict deeply. To assume that from this sky, after 5 seconds of reflection, you don’t have to fret, I feel that’s the perfect present you can provide these younger individuals.”
The reminiscence of Maria
The group of younger individuals additionally offered Pope Leo with a framed {photograph} of their buddy Maria. Simply over a 12 months in the past, on the age of 12, she died in a bombing whereas procuring along with her mom, Irina, a month earlier than the journey that was to take her to Italy.
“It was as in the event that they have been current within the group, and I feel this bond has been additional strengthened at this time,” says Nicola.
The {photograph} of Maria offered to Pope Leo (@Vatican Media)
Troublesome actuality confronted by younger individuals
The younger individuals additionally shared with Vatican Information the “many difficulties” they expertise every day. They’re unable to review or see their mates; the phobia of the sound of missiles and bombs and the injury they trigger is fixed, and lots of have been displaced from the houses the place they grew up.
“Our routine is totally disrupted, our sleep is disturbed, now we have to go right down to the shelter on a regular basis and we stay in fixed stress,” says Tetiana. “Once we come to Italy, as we at the moment are, and speak to our friends, I all the time inform them: ‘We’re very joyful for you that you’re dwelling your lives, that you just have no idea conflict, that you just have no idea the sound of air raid sirens. Recognize these moments, respect a peaceable life. As a result of when conflict got here, individuals started to understand even the smallest and most insignificant issues’.”
Residing a standard life
The sense of a standard, peaceable life is exactly what the Church of St. Joseph of Cupertino, which is internet hosting the group in Rome, is attempting to supply lately.
The kids are staying with varied households within the parish, however they eat their meals within the church and attend the summer season camp with 280 different younger individuals of the identical age.
“Final evening, one of many Ukrainian kids mentioned, ‘The place are my Italian dad and mom? Why aren’t they right here but?’ as they have been a few minutes late selecting him up,” explains Fr. Paolo Pizzuti with a smile. “It’s a really stunning second, but it surely’s extra stunning for us than for them. Welcoming them into our houses and our group has actually given us a lot.”
“We publish pictures of the youngsters in a dad and mom’ group, and so they say, ‘Thanks for letting our kids keep there, in a world the place they’ll stay usually. The place they’ll play and sleep peacefully, with out occupied with when a siren will sound or a missile will arrive’,” Sister Oleksia says. “We’re so near the realm the place the preventing is happening that this time can also be a dream for the youngsters. They are going to return very joyful.”
Remainder of the journey
After their keep in Rome, the younger individuals will likely be hosted by the Diocese of Como, because of volunteers from the Frontiere di Tempo (“Borders of Peace”) initiative, till 27 June. There, they’ll get pleasure from video games and conferences with varied parishes and communities.
Then, till 5 July, they are going to be in Ponte di Legno, Lombardy, the place they are going to be welcomed by one other humanitarian affiliation, Amici in cordata nel mondo.
