CV NEWS FEED // The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a Lenten message March 3 that urges Catholics to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, calling for prayer, peace, and concrete aid as the war continues.
“As we begin the holy Season of Lent, a time of prayer, penance, and charity, we join our Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his solidarity with the ‘martyred people of Ukraine,’” President of the USCCB Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio wrote.
He quoted Pope Francis’ 2024 statements about the conflict, reaffirming that “courageous negotiations require boldness to open the door for dialogue” and calling on the international community to work “with perseverance for a just peace and an end to aggression.”
The statement also pointed to the historical struggles of the Catholic Church in Ukraine, recalling how past occupations have led to religious persecution and repression.
Archbishop Broglio echoed Pope Francis’ plea for religious freedom in Ukraine, insisting that “no Christian church be abolished directly or indirectly” and that “churches are not to be touched.”
In addition to spiritual support, the Archbishop encouraged American Catholics to contribute to the annual Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, which many dioceses take up on Ash Wednesday. This collection helps support Ukrainian Catholics and others suffering in the region.
Archbishop Broglio concluded, “I invite America’s Catholics, in union with all men and women of good will, to pray for the peace of Ukraine, and to contribute generously to assisting that suffering and courageous nation.”
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