TIME.CO, Jakarta – francis pause condemned Russia’s missile attack against Ukraine on Tuesday, called for a ceasefire to avert the risk of an escalation of the conflict and asked God to “hurry up” to end it.
He was speaking at a general audience in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday 16 November 2022 as NATO allies investigate unconfirmed reports that an explosion in a Polish village near the Ukrainian border was caused by a missile. Russia. But the Pope did not mention the incident.
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“I learned with pain and concern of the new and even more ferocious missile attack on Ukraine, which caused deaths and damage to a large amount of civilian infrastructure,” Francis said in Italian.
“We pray that God will change the hearts of those who are still betting on war and fulfill wishes for peace in martyred Ukraine to avoid escalation and pave the way for a ceasefire and dialogue,” he said.
Minutes later, in another comment on Ukraine, he added: “We can pray for Ukraine by saying, if you want, ‘Hurry up, God.'”
Russia fired 110 missiles and 10 Iranian-made attack drones at Ukraine on Tuesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the main target of the missile strike was the energy infrastructure, as before, although he added that only 10 targets were hit.
The attacks have disempowered millions of Ukrainians in 16 of 24 regions, including Kiev, the United Nations humanitarian office OCHA said.
Last month, Francis, for the first time, made a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the “spiral of violence and death” in Ukraine.
He mentioned Ukraine in almost all of his public appearances and repeatedly stated that the crisis risked the use of nuclear weapons, with uncontrollable global consequences.
REUTERS
