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

Father Oleksandr Repin among the church ruins

Benedictine nun from Ukraine: The church building is in ruins, but the Church is alive

Nov 18, 2022

By Justyna Galant

“It was hard to imagine that not so long ago, this had been a church where people had gathered every... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrating Mass for peace in Ukraine on Thursday in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, Nov. 17, 2022

‘We lift our prayers to God for peace in Ukraine’: Vatican Mass marks Ukraine-Holy See diplomatic relationship

Nov 18, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Mass marked the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Ukraine. Read more

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

U.S. Catholic bishops affirm support for Ukraine war with Russia

Nov 16, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

Pledges of continued support following an impassioned speech by Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Read more

Salesian missions shipped food and medical supplies to Zhytomyr in war-torn Ukraine.

Food shipment feeds hundreds at parish, orphanage and school in Ukraine

Nov 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

Amid concern over new missile strikes and ongoing prayer by Pope Francis for Ukraine, hundreds in the war-torn country received... Read more

USCCB Fall Meeting 2021

10 things to look for at the U.S. bishops’ fall meeting this week

Nov 14, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

The U.S. bishops will choose a new president and vice president and discuss their voting guide, eucharistic revival, and the... Read more

His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

Major Archbishop Shevchuk denounces ‘genocidal‘ war in Ukraine

Nov 14, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church shares his thoughts on his recent meetings with Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus... Read more

Pope Francis and Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Ukrainian Catholic leader gives Pope Francis Russian mine fragment

Nov 7, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church gave Pope Francis a piece from an exploded Russian mine during a... Read more

Vladimir Putin / Credit: Flickr from Global Panorama (CC BY-SA 2.0)  Pope Francis / Daniel Ibañez, ACI Press

Russia is ‘willing’ to speak with Pope Francis about the war in Ukraine

Oct 26, 2022

By CNA Staff

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov said his government is willing to talk with Pope Francis, the U.S., and France to... Read more

Pope Francis and Emmanuel Macron at the Vatican, Oct 24, 2022

Pope Francis meets French President Emmanuel Macron

Oct 24, 2022

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis received French President Emmanuel Macron at the Vatican on Monday. Read more

Pope Francis meeting with Jesuits in Kazakhstan, Sept. 15, 2022

Pope Francis says that he tried to help Ukraine, Russia prisoner swap

Sep 29, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has said that he was involved in a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. Read more

Catholics in Poland pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Sept. 28, 2022

Catholics in Poland and around the world pray Divine Mercy Chaplet to end war

Sep 29, 2022

By Justyna Galant

On Wednesday, Catholics recited the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the streets of 173 cities in Poland and 44 localities worldwide.  Read more

General audience with Pope Francis on St. Peter's Square, Vatican, Sept. 21, 2022

Pope Francis: ‘The cross of Christ remains the anchor of salvation’

Sep 21, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis on Wednesday said that offering Mass for the feast of the Holy Cross led him to think about... Read more

Papal almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, pictured in St. Peter’s Basilica on June 29, 2019.

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski prays at mass grave in Ukraine

Sep 20, 2022

By Courtney Mares

A Vatican envoy in Ukraine prayed in silence at the recently discovered mass grave in Izium on Monday while forensic... Read more

Papal almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.

Pope Francis’ representative in Ukraine shot at while delivering aid

Sep 17, 2022

By CNA Staff

The incident happened while Cardinal Konrad Krajewski was bringing food and other supplies to people stuck in a “no-man’s land”... Read more

Ukrainian refugees at the house of the Capuchin friars in Slovakia with Brother Martin Azzopardi (second from the right).

Ukrainian refugees say they 'found new family' with friars in Slovakia

Sep 1, 2022

By Charlotte Evans

Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia have spoken about their sorrow at the ongoing conflict in their country and voiced gratitude for... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Aug. 10, 2022.

Vatican: Pope Francis’ Ukraine War comments not a ‘political stance’

Aug 30, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Holy See said Pope Francis’ recent comments on a car bombing that killed the daughter of an ally of... Read more

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill makes the sign of the cross during the Easter Mass at the Christ The Saviour Cathedral on April 24, 2022 in Moscow, Russia.

Report: Patriarch Kirill will not meet Pope Francis in Kazakhstan

Aug 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

It was hoped the two religious leaders would meet to discuss a peaceful resolution to the six-month-long war in Ukraine. Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in the Vatican, Aug. 24, 2022

Six months into Ukraine War, Pope Francis asks Mary to bring peace

Aug 24, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis made a special appeal for peace between Ukraine and Russia at Wednesday's end of his general audience. Read more

Pope Francis speaking in the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 26, 2022.

Pope Francis in Canada: How Ukrainian migrants and indigenous peoples can learn from each other

Jul 27, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The history of indigenous peoples in Canada speaks to the plight of Ukrainian immigrants, says this bishop in Edmonton.  Read more

Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, accompanied by Father Andriy Zelinsky of the military chaplaincy, met wounded Ukrainian soldiers and their families.

'The Catholic Church remembers Ukraine': Archbishop visits wounded soldiers

Jul 21, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Before visiting recently released prisoners of war in Ukraine, the resident of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe... Read more