Cardinal Krajewski, director of the Pontifical Societies, returns to Rome from Lviv after a week-long mission to Ukraine. The Cardinal’s trip aims to send supplies such as generators and thermal clothing to the war-torn country. The cardinal told this news site about his Christmas experience spent in Kiev, and revealed: The Holy Father Pope sent me a voice message on my cell phone, telling me that he is very happy to be able to pray and share with people through his hospice director.
(Vatican News Network)Cardinal Krajewski, director of the Pontifical Societies, returned to Rome from the Ukraine with an empty truck and a full heart. He completed his mission in Ukraine by delivering generators and thermal clothing to starving and freezing people in the dark. Since the outbreak of war, the director of the Pontifical Societies has once again brought warmth to the suffering as the Pope’s Messenger of Charity. Furthermore, since Cardinal Krajewski set out on his journey on December 17, the Pope has remained in contact with him and he personally thanked the cardinal with a voice message on his cell phone.
“The Pope sent me a message via whatsapp. He is happy to be ‘here’, to be with the Ukrainian people through his alms director, to strengthen the faith of his people”, the cardinal told this network by telephone of news. pray with them, stay with them, eat with them, suffer with them, because everyone here suffers. Think of these skyscrapers without electricity or water, where people can’t even take a shower”.
The director of the Pontifical Societies then recounted his Christmas Eve this year: On Christmas Eve the cardinal went to a small village called Fastiv, about 80 kilometers from Kyiv, where there is a parish run by the Dominicans. refugee center. After the war broke out, many people stayed here and fled the country in organized vehicles.
On December 24, at 9 pm, Cardinal Krajewski celebrated mass there. “We use generators in the sanctuary because there is no electricity – said the cardinal – It is difficult for us to understand the situation: without electricity there is no heating, there is no kitchen. Fortunately, because the Pope’s Works they were replaced by the Holy Father a month and a half ago. With the money sent in the name of the Pope, several large generators were purchased. We used one during mass to light up the homes of refugees”.
Before Christmas midnight mass, the cardinal, the Dominicans and 150 volunteers dined on Ukrainian cuisine: “We spent two hours together and what they told me was very constructive for me”. , “who formed groups during these three hundred days of war, provided support, went to Zaporozhye, Odessa two or three times a week, and sent food and clothing. Cardinal The warm clothes brought on this trip will also be distributed through the hands of these volunteers to the soldiers and civilians who live in those cities and have nothing”.
For the cardinal it was a “very beautiful” moment: “We have peace. Even in a place that is often bombed there is stillness and peace”. About 300 people attended the mass. Due to the curfew, they had until 11pm to go home. Cardinal Krajewski handed the pope’s pearl rosary to the group, saying: “I appeal to every family present here, to every person, to bring this rosary home for at least 24 hours, regardless of religious creed. solidarity with the Holy Father Pope. As I explained, the Virgin Mary not only gave birth to Jesus, but she also stood before the cross of Jesus. Therefore, she knows the meaning of suffering.
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