BY Stephen Edwardson | February 19 | 
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Pope Francis urges peace in Ukraine
Pope Francis has called for an end to violence and for peace in Ukraine as violence intensified throughout the Eastern European country.
Speaking at his general audience this morning, the Holy Father urged ‘all parties to cease all violence and to seek harmony and peace in the country’’ as clashes continued in the country. Twenty five people died in battles between police and protestors in Kiev yesterday.
The Pontiff spoke of his closeness with the people of Ukraine and said that he had prayed for the victims of the violence, and for the families of those who were injured during the protests.
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), echoed the call from Pope Francis for peace.
“I appeal to everyone to immediately stop the bloodshed! I call all the children of the Church to fasting, prayer and solidarity with victims,” he said. “At this moment, when Ukraine is in danger of fratricide, let all bells in the UGCC churches ring.”
Protests against the Ukrainian Government began in November after the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych backed out of an European Union trade pact, in order to maintain better ties with Russia.
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