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

Pope Francis and Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

Pope Francis assures Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops of prayers, 'involvement' to end war

Jul 11, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said he is praying for Ukraine and working behind the scenes to help suffering Ukrainians.   Read more

Pope Francis prays the Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace on July 3, 2022.

Pope Francis: Evangelization is not ‘personal activism’ but a witness of love

Jul 3, 2022

By Courtney Mares

In his Angelus address, the pope posed a question: “How do we bring the good news of the Gospel to... Read more

A photograph taken on June 28, 2022 shows charred goods in a grocery store of the destroyed Amstor mall in Kremenchuk, one day after it was hit by a Russian missile strike according to Ukrainian authorities.

Pope Francis condemns ‘barbaric attack’ on Ukraine mall

Jun 29, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Russian missile hit a shopping mall June 27, killing at least 18, Ukrainian authorities said. Read more

Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.

UK government sanctions head of Russian Orthodox Church

Jun 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Foreign Office said that Patriarch Kirill was being ‘sanctioned for his support and endorsement of Putin’s war.’ Read more

Pope Francis’ general audience in St. Peter’s Square, June 8, 2022.

Pope Francis: Russia’s use of mercenaries in Ukraine is ‘monstrous’

Jun 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

In a new interview, the pope suggested the Ukraine war was ‘perhaps somehow either provoked or not prevented.’ Read more

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets Pope Francis at the Vatican, June 10, 2022.

Pope Francis discusses Ukraine war with European Commission head

Jun 10, 2022

By CNA Staff

Ursula von der Leyen also met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Read more

Poland’s bishops celebrate Mass in Zakopane on June 7, 2002.

Poland’s Catholic bishops: Many Ukrainians ‘will not be able to survive’ without help

Jun 8, 2022

By Justyna Galant

More than three million people have fled from Ukraine to Poland since Feb. 24. Read more

Relatives, friends and comrades of Ukrainian soldier Eduardo Trepilchenko, who was killed on the Eastern front battling the Russian invasion , attend his funeral at St Michael's Cathedral on May 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Pope Francis calls 100 days of war in Ukraine ‘negation of God’s dream’

Jun 5, 2022

By Katie Yoder

During his Regina Coeli address, the pope urged world leaders to unite against war and work toward solutions. Read more

Pope Francis embraces a child during his meeting with participants in the Children's Train initiative at the Vatican on June 4, 2022.

Boy asks Pope Francis: 'Can you come to Ukraine to save all the children?'

Jun 5, 2022

By CNA Staff

The poignant exchange came during the pope's meeting with 160 schoolchildren on June 4. Read more

A young girl draws on the wall of a destroyed house in the village of Andriivka, Kyiv region, on June 3, 2022 on the 100th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sergei Chuzavkov/AFP via Getty Images)

Bishop of Kyiv after 100 days of war: 'Please, let us not stop praying for Ukraine' 

Jun 3, 2022

By Justyna Galant

The fighting in Ukraine has entered a new phase, and some are losing interest —and hope. Read more

Pope Francis’ general audience in St. Peter’s Square, June 1, 2022.

Pope Francis: Do not use wheat as a ‘weapon of war’ in Ukraine

Jun 1, 2022

By Courtney Mares

‘Please do not use wheat, a staple food, as a weapon of war,’ he urged at the general audience. Read more

Pope Francis prays the rosary for peace in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, May 31, 2022.

Pope Francis prays rosary for peace in Ukraine and around the world

May 31, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope meditated on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary in union with Marian shrines around the world. Read more

Pope Francis prays before Our Lady of Fatima May 13, 2015.

Ukraine war: Catholics invited to join Pope Francis in praying rosary for peace

May 26, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Vatican said: ‘All the faithful in every part of the world are invited to support Pope Francis in his... Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki.

Polish bishops’ leader: Vatican’s approach to Russia ‘naive and utopian’

May 24, 2022

By Luke Coppen

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki made the remark after a May 17-20 visit to Ukraine. Read more

Pope Francis meets members of Italy’s Civil Protection service in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall on May 23, 2022.

Pope Francis thanks Italian volunteers for helping Ukrainian refugees fleeing ‘absurd war’

May 23, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope thanked volunteers for aiding ‘refugees from Ukraine, especially women and children who have fled this absurd war.’ Read more

Archbishop Paul Gallagher meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on May 20.

Vatican foreign minister meets Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv

May 20, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Paul Gallagher prayed at a former mass grave site in Bucha during his Ukraine visit. Read more

Tetiana Stawnychy, president of Caritas Ukraine, speaks at a press conference in Rome, May 16, 2022.

‘This is going to be a long haul’: Ukraine’s Caritas groups help almost 1.5 million people as war rages on

May 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

The aid offered so far is ‘just the beginning,’ said Caritas Ukraine president Tetiana Stawnychy. Read more

Bishop Krzysztof Zadarko, chairman of the Polish bishops’ council for migration, tourism, and pilgrimages.

Catholic bishop questions lack of EU support as Poland aids millions of Ukrainian refugees

May 16, 2022

By Justyna Galant

More than three million people have fled from Ukraine to Poland since Feb. 24. Read more

Pope Francis meets Kateryna Prokopenko and Yulya Fedosiuk in St. Peter’s Square on May 11, 2022.

Pope Francis meets wives of Ukrainian soldiers fighting to defend Mariupol

May 11, 2022

By Courtney Mares

‘You are our last hope. We hope that you can save their lives. Please don’t let them die.’ Read more

Damage at the Major Theological Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Vorzel, Ukraine.

Ukraine war: Catholic charity to fund restoration of looted seminary

May 11, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘They took everything they could,’ said seminary rector Father Ruslan Mikhalkiv. Read more