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Photo: Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I embrace.
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risu.org.ua - There is a difference between peace and truce. The truce is a nonaggression pact. But this is not the desired solution. To achieve peace, both sides involved should strive for it. It cannot be so that one side wanted peace, and the other did the service: “Well, you are not going to attack.” This is only a truce. There will be no peace if only one side wants it.”
His Beatitude Liubomyr, Archbishop Emeritus of the UGCC, said it in an interview with internet portal “Ogliadach,” asked whether Ukraine is to accept disadvantageous peace.
In addition, the hierarch noted that from a historical perspective it seemed difficult to hope that one day Russia would overcome its imperial complex. “But I think that sooner or later Russia would realize: it is either war or peace. And if it is war, it will be equally horrible for everyone,” said the spiritual leader of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Liubomyr says that the reasonable solution is the peace, “which will ensure calm in Europe, especially in its East,” but adds: Russia does not seem really ready for that.
“I am looking at the history. There were Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, the Soviet system. This system is still alive. Look further into the past. Russia was never quiet. This is too bad, because the war will be an unhappy solution for Russian people. Imperial ambitions will not bring this country anything,” he said and added: “May God let the Russian state leaders realize that only sincere, true peace can be useful to their people. This is what I dream about.” It was reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.
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CWN - A joint Catholic-Orthodox commission met this week to begin its exploration of the life of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, whose cause for canonization is a controversial topic in Croatia and Serbia.
The joint commission was established to study questions about the conduct of Cardinal Stepinac during and immediately after World War II, and his ties with Croatian nationalist groups that had fascist connections. An avowed enemy of Communism, the cardinal was convicted of treason in a show trial and sentenced to a 16-year prison term. Released to house arrest after five years, he died in 1960. He was canonized as a martyr by Pope John Paul II in 1998.
The commission studying Cardinal Stepinac's historical role is chaired by Father Bernard Ardura, the president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, and composed mostly of Catholic and Orthodox bishops. The group is expected to conclude its work within a year.
In announcing the first meeting of the joint commission, the Vatican press office noted that it "will not interfere with the process of canonization of Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepanic, which is strictly within the competence of the Holy See."
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risu.org.ua - It is obvious that in our movement to Europe, we need something to bring to Europe. Ukraine will be of interest for European civilization if it retains its identity, if it comes as a poor supplicant but as a nation with own rich culture and rich spiritual legacy. In fact, we have something to say to the world and to share with it.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav was reported as saying this in his interview to the American edition “Ukrainian People,” when answering the question whether the European integration should become a major and unchanging foreign policy priority for Ukraine.
The Patriarch of the UGCC said that de facto, the events on the Maidan, the Revolution of Dignity were distinct evidence of European values. “Today, very often it turns out that Europe has forgotten its roots. It is hard to believe that a European is able to sacrifice his life for the ‘European values’, while Ukraine daily sacrifices its best sons and daughters,” said the patriarch.
He reminded that Ukraine had made its choice in favor of the European family of nations as early as in the time of Prince Volodymyr, having adopted Christianity. “I would not juxtapose two realities: the establishment of its independence, and thus, for example, our civilization movement in the European family of nations. These are two stages of the process. We can remain a free and independent country and confront the threat of assimilation in the East only when we become a truly valuable member of the family of European nations,” the Patriarch said.
He cited an example: “The Russian state leaders denied the existence of the Ukrainian nation as such, its culture, identity, and thus denied its right to exist as a separate state. If Ukraine and we as a nation will be absorbed by this community, this Eurasian space, we risk disappearing as a people, as a nation, as a culture.”
In the interview, His Beatitude Sviatoslav also said that before the Revolution of Dignity representatives of all churches and religious organizations in Ukraine, including the Moscow Patriarchate, had signed a letter of appeal regarding the European aspirations of the Ukrainian people. It was reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.
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CWN - During a recent visit to Belarus, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said that a meeting there between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow could foster peace in Ukraine.
The Vienna cardinal was in Belarus to represent Pope Francis at the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev. Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill met for the first time in Havana in February and issued a joint declaration.
“Belarus could play a role as a mediator between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches,” said Cardinal Schönborn, according to a report from the Interfax news agency. “Belarus is not involved in the conflict [in Ukraine]. And such a meeting on the Belarusian soil could help resolve this conflict.”
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CWN - Bombing and artillery strikes in the Syrian city of Aleppo have forced the Catholic Church to suspend all activities except the administration of the sacraments, the city's Latin-rite apostolic vicar told the AsiaNews service.
Msgr. George Abou Khazen reported "heavy shelling throughout the day yesterday," and said that some blasts impacted on Church offices-- although fortunately there were no casualties in that case. He said that summer recreational and educational programs had been stopped, and "the church will only stay open so that the faithful can come and pray or attend services."
Msgr. Khazen said that the level of violence in Aleppo is "really frightening." The shelling, he said, is not really a matter of two armed forces striking at each other, "but only the bombing of defenseless civilians."
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CWN - Reflecting on the “extremely positive” legacy of Pope Francis’s recent apostolic journey to Armenia, an Armenian Catholic prelate said that “not only Catholics responded, but also the faithful of the Apostolic Church who recognized in the Pope a true universal pastor.”
Armenia is described as the first Christian nation, and 93% of Armenians are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, an Oriental Orthodox church that ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451. 6% of Armenians are Catholic.
“Perhaps the time is right for the clergy, both Catholic and Apostolic, to make an examination of conscience and begin working so that the Lord’s prayer ‘that they may be one,’ may become a reality,” said Archbishop Raphaël Minassian.
He added:
Perhaps rather than wasting time with self-defense and justifying our conduct, the time has come to accept mistakes and to begin a new spiritual path in the service of the Armenian people, without selfish calculations, without claims to power or positions, but cognizant that the responsibility entrusted to us: to aspire to that journey, together, towards our true goal which is the unity of Christ’s Church
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