Ukraine War

The Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The Russian offensive triggered the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Thousands of people, including many civilians, have died in the war amid heavy fighting in the north, east, and south of Ukraine. The country is home to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the largest of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome. Pope Francis has said that the Vatican is willing to mediate an end to the conflict between the predominantly Eastern Orthodox nations.

The Latest

Sviatoslav Shevchuk is major archbishop of Kyiv–Galicia and primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church talks war, the pope, and same-sex blessings 

Mar 16, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

In an exclusive interview with EWTN News, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk spoke of the continued need for humanitarian aid in... Read more

Pope Francis presides over a penitential service at St. Pius V Parish in Rome on March 8, 2024.

Vatican: Pope Francis’ ‘white flag’ remark a call for negotiations, not Ukraine’s surrender

Mar 9, 2024

By Shannon Mullen

The Holy Father made the remarks last month in a newly released television interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI. Read more

Sviatoslav Shevchuk is Major Archbishop of Kyiv–Galicia and Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Ukrainian Catholic patriarch’s message in U.S.: ‘Please don’t give up Ukraine’

Mar 7, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

In an exclusive interview with EWTN News, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk pleaded for the president and U.S. lawmakers to renew... Read more

Speaking in his Angelus address on March 3, 2024, about the Israel-Hamas war, Pope Francis made an emotional plea for negotiations to reach a deal that both frees the hostages immediately and grants civilians access to humanitarian aid.

Pope Francis urges ‘an immediate cease-fire in Gaza’ that frees hostages, grants aid 

Mar 3, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In his Angelus address on March 3, the pope made an emotional plea for a deal that both frees the... Read more

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference center in central Moscow on Feb. 29, 2024.

Putin warns West of nuclear war risk over Ukraine troop deployment

Feb 29, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

“[The West] must understand that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory,” Russian President Vladimir Putin... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 25, 2024, during his weekly Angelus reflection. The pope canceled his audiences the day before due to mild flu conditions, according to the Vatican.

Pope Francis, recovering from ‘mild flu,’ renews call for peace in Ukraine

Feb 25, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis appeared in good form during his Angelus address, marking the the Ukraine war’s second anniversary and reflecting on... Read more

Borys Gudziak, archeparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

Catholic Church in Ukraine facing extermination, bishops say

Oct 31, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The bishops said that the Church in Ukraine could be facing severe repression and may once again be forced underground... Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Sunday Angelus message to about 20,000 faithful in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Oct. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus: ‘We must not be slaves to any earthly power’

Oct 22, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

During Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis spoke to the faithful on the importance of the correct relationship between the Church and... Read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a high level Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine on the sidelines of the 78th U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 20, 2023.

More Republicans hesitant on Ukraine funding as Zelenskyy talks to lawmakers, UN

Sep 20, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

A number of legislators are expressing reservations about sending more aid to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making his... Read more

Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Sept. 19, 2023, amid Russia's military invasion on Ukraine. Drones attacked Ukraine's western city of Lviv early on Sept. 19, and explosions rang out, causing a warehouse fire and wounding at least one person.

Vatican cardinal to make charity mission to Ukraine city hit by Russian drones

Sep 20, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is in Ukraine this week to open the House of Refuge “in the name of Pope Francis,... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican Ivan Soltanovsky on Sept. 18, 2023, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis meets with new Russian ambassador to the Vatican

Sep 18, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The meeting comes days after papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi visited Beijing to discuss efforts to bring about peace in... Read more

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Italy.

Cardinal Zuppi meets with Chinese official to discuss peace in Ukraine

Sep 15, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi met with Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is one of only a few women in the world who can wear white, rather than the customary black, when meeting the pope for an official private audience at the Vatican. She arrived at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace with her husband, King Philippe of the Belgians, on Sept. 14, 2023, wearing a white mantilla veil and a white dress.

Why the Queen of Belgium can wear white when meeting the pope

Sep 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

She has the “privilège du blanc,” a papal privilege currently granted only to Catholic royalty from Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco,... Read more

Pope Francis and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi at the Vatican on Aug. 24, 2023.

Cardinal Zuppi heading to Beijing to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine

Sep 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed on Tuesday that the cardinal will be in the Chinese capital as the pope’s peace... Read more

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, presides over a Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sept. 10, 2023.

Ukrainian Catholic leader offers Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica

Sep 11, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said Sept. 10 that he wanted to express gratitude to the pope and Catholics everywhere for... Read more

Pope Francis and Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

Vatican reassures Ukrainian Catholics that pope did not intend to praise Russian imperialism

Aug 29, 2023

By Alexey Gotovskiy, Courtney Mares

Pope Francis made the comment while speaking off the cuff during a live video conference with Russian youth Aug. 25.  Read more

Pope Francis meets with Hungary President Katalin Novák at the Vatican on Aug. 25, 2023.

Pope Francis discusses family values, Ukraine war with Hungarian president

Aug 25, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In the 45-minute meeting on Aug. 25, the pope and Novák spoke about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and efforts... Read more

Marina Aleykseyeva, 31, from Kiev, Ukraine, (second from left with a pink baseball cap), together with fellow pilgrims from Ukraine, attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 1–6, 2023. She said they traveled to the international gathering to pray for peace in their country.

Ukrainian Catholics receive warm reception at World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon

Aug 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Marina Aleykseyeva, a Ukrainian pilgrim, said “it was unbelievable” how many people stopped them on the streets to say they... Read more

Pope Francis addresses reporters on Aug. 6, 2023 aboard the papal flight on his return to Rome from his five-day trip to Portugal and World Youth Day.

Pope Francis explains why he skipped Fatima prayer for peace

During his in-flight press conference, the pope also spoke about his health, youth suicide, and access to the sacraments. Read more

Pope Francis sits quietly during a meeting with students at the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 3, 2023.

Pope Francis confirms Vatican envoy’s visit to China in wide-ranging interview

Aug 4, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope also addressed “rigidity” in the Church and concerns about the Synod on Synodality. Read more