Pope Francis has expressed his desire to travel to Ukraine as soon as possible, but his visit should not do more harm than good. The Pope confided this wish to some 160 schoolchildren who came to the Vatican for the event.
(Vatican News Network)Pope Francis has reiterated his desire to visit Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as he waits for the right moment. The Pope made the wish when he met some 160 children at the Vatican on June 4. The children, some of them refugees, came to the Vatican from all over Italy to take part in the “Children’s Train”. This activity belongs to the “Garden of the Gentiles” project of the Pontifical Council for Culture, in cooperation with the Italian National Railways. The children participating in the activity vary in their religious beliefs. In addition to Catholics, there are also Muslims, Buddhists, Orthodox Christians and atheists. After a two-year shutdown due to the new crown epidemic, the eighth “Children’s Train” was held this year.
During the Pope’s meeting with children, a Ukrainian refugee boy named Sachar told the Pope: “I am not asking a question, but a request: can you come to Ukraine to save all those who are suffering there now children?” the Pope replied: “I am very concerned regarding the children in Ukraine. So I sent a few cardinals there to help, to be close to all the people, especially the children.”
The Pope continued: “I want to go to Ukraine. But I have to wait for the right moment to go because it is an easy decision to avoid doing more harm than good to the world. I have to find the best way to do it. Timing. This week I will meet with several representatives of the Ukrainian government who are here to discuss my possible visit.” Ahead of the event, Pope Francis had already stated that he had received an invitation from the Ukrainian civil and ecclesiastical authorities and hoped that he would can go to visit. This is all under study.
When dealing with children, some children also asked: How does it feel to be the Pope? The Pope explained: “It is important that no matter what career life leads you into, you do not stop being who you are.” In other words: one must always live out oneself in the workplace. The Pope said: “So, what does it feel like for me to be Pope? As a person, it’s as if each of you is invested in your own profession and work. Because I am also a person, just like you. When I take on this role When I do things, I have to be as humble as possible and be more in line with my nature, rather than doing things that go once morest my heart.”
Another child asked: “Is it hard to be the Pope?” The Pope replied: Every task has its hardships. But “God has given us the strength to undertake our own toil”, and we must carry forward the work “honestly, earnestly and diligently”.
During the question and answer, the Pope emphasized that we must remember that God is with us and that it is very helpful to have the feeling of God’s protection. The Pope reminded that “the worst case scenario is that we do not want to feel the presence of God”, choosing instead to distance ourselves from God. “The secret is to feel the presence of God. It will be with you all your life.”
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