Cardinal Parolin: “Do not give in to the inevitability of war”

“We cannot submit to the inevitability of war! a joke.” This was confirmed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican City, in an interview with the Vatican media on the eve of his departure to participate in the G20 in Brazil. The Secretary of State of the Vatican City visited Ukraine last July, where he visited Lviv, Odessa, and Kiev.

In his answer to a question about his feelings at this time, Cardinal Parolin said that he could not help but feel a deep sadness, because no one can get used to the news that reaches us every day which speaks of death and destruction. . Ukraine is a country under attack, bearing witness to the sacrifice of entire generations of men and young people, torn from school, work and family to be sent to the front lines. He experiences the tragedy of those who see their loved ones die under bombs or under the effects of a drone; He sees how those who lost their homes or who live in difficult situations during the war are suffering.

The Secretary of State of the Vatican City continued, answering a question about what we can do to help Ukraine and saying first, as Christian believers, we can and must pray. And we ask God to guide the hearts of the “warlords”. We must continue to ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, a Mother who is especially honored in those lands where she was baptized many centuries ago. Second, we can promise not to lose our solidarity with those who suffer, those who need care, those who are cold, those who need everything . The Church in Ukraine does a lot for the people by sharing with them day after day what happened to the country during the war. Thirdly, we can hear our voices, as a community, as a people, to ask for peace. We can bring out our cry, and ask that our requests for peace be heard and taken into account. We can say no to war, to the crazy arms race that Pope Francis still denies. It is understandable to feel helpless in the face of what is happening, but what is more true is that together, as one human family, we can do so much.

Cardinal Parolin, answering a question about what is needed today to at least stop arms, said, “It is fair to say, at least stop arms.” Because negotiating peace just takes time, and a ceasefire involving all parties – which could happen first thanks to Russia, which started the conflict and is the right to stop the attack – happen even within a few hours if he wants. As the Holy Father repeats again and again, we need people who bet on peace and not on war, people who understand the great responsibility represented by following a conflict with serious consequences not only for Ukraine but also for the whole of Europe and the whole world. A war that threatens to drag us into a nuclear conflict, that is, into the abyss. The Holy See is trying to do everything in its power to maintain dialogue channels with everyone, but there is a feeling as if we have turned back the clock of history. Diplomatic work, dialogue patience, and negotiation creativity seem to have disappeared, and are just a legacy of the past. It is the innocent victims who pay the price. War steals the future from generations of children and youth, creates divisions and promotes hatred. We are in great need of statesmen with a far-sighted vision, able to make brave gestures of humility, and able to think about the good of the people. Forty years ago, the peace treaty between Argentina and Chile was signed in Rome, and the dispute over the Beagle Channel was settled with the mediation of the Holy See. A few years before, the two countries had reached the threshold of war, but thanks to God everything stopped: many lives were saved, many tears were avoided. Why can’t this spirit be found again today, in the heart of Europe?

The Secretary of State of the Vatican City, answering a question whether he thinks there is room for negotiation today, concluded that even if the signs are not positive, there is always a compromise possible and desirable for all who value the sanctity of human life. Communication is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of confidence. There is a path of “sincere discussions” and a path of “honorable concessions,” and I refer here to the words of Pope Francis during his recent visit to Luxembourg and Belgium, and the path of dialogue is the basic path that should be followed by those. who hold the destinies of men in their hands. A conversation that only takes place when there is a minimum level of trust between the parties. This requires good will from everyone. If one person does not trust, at least in the least, the other, and if no one acts honestly, everything will remain in limbo. And so in Ukraine, in the Holy Land as in many other parts of the world, fighting and death continue. We cannot surrender to the inevitability of war! I sincerely hope that this sad day, the thousandth day since the start of the great war against Ukraine, will raise a sense of responsibility among all people, especially among those who can stop it ‘ meat that goes on.