ROME, Italy — Pope Francis pointed to the departure of ships filled with grain from Ukrainian ports as fruit of dialogue and a sign of hope Sunday. Following his weekly Angelus message in the Vatican, the pontiff told the crowd of pilgrims how pleased he was with the departure of the first ships loaded with grain from the ports of Ukraine. “This step demonstrates that it is possible to dialogue and to reach concrete results for everyone’s benefit,” he said, adding that the event is “a sign of hope” for a better future for the beleaguered nation. “I sincerely hope that, following in this direction, there might be an end to combat and that a just and lasting peace might be reached,” he concluded. Russia has been blockading Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea since it invaded in February but relented last month under a deal brokered by Turkey and the U.N. A journalist watches as the bulk carrier Razoni starts its way from the port in Odesa, Ukraine, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. … [Read more...] about Pope Francis Welcomes Ukraine Grain Shipping as ‘Sign of Hope’
Sviatoslav shevchuk
Ukrainian Archbishop Urges Refugees to be ‘Worthy Ambassadors’
ROME — Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk urged his compatriots who have been forced from their homeland to be “worthy ambassadors” of Ukraine. While continuing to decry Russia’s relentless onslaught, Archbishop Shevchuk addressed Ukrainian refugees in a video message Sunday, reminding them that they are the face and the voice of Ukraine in the world. “I ask you to be worthy ambassadors of your homeland, because when the world meets you, it wants to see, hear, and meet Ukraine in your face,” the archbishop said. “Please preserve your culture, language, church, and religious identity.” In a series of specific instructions, Shevchuk — the head of Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church — encouraged refugees “scattered throughout the countries of Central and Western Europe, as well as in other parts of the world” to join Ukrainian communities in the countries where they find themselves and to keep their Christian culture alive. “Take care of the Christian and national … [Read more...] about Ukrainian Archbishop Urges Refugees to be ‘Worthy Ambassadors’
