In a speech to the public on Wednesday, Pope Francis referred to an assault on a mall in Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, as “barbaric.”
“I carry in my heart every day the dear and tormented Ukraine, which continues to be plagued by barbaric attacks, such as the one that struck the Kremenchuk shopping center,” the pope said on June 29.
A Russian missile strike hit a shopping mall in Kremenchuk on June 27.
Ukrainian authorities said the next day that at least 18 people were killed in the attack and another 36 were missing.
“I pray that this foolish war may soon see an end, and I renew the invitation to persevere, without tiring, in the prayer for peace: may the Lord open those paths of dialogue that men are unwilling or unable to find,” he said. “And let us not neglect to come to the aid of the Ukrainian people, who are suffering so much.”
Following the Angelus in commemoration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Francis spoke about Ukraine..
According to the Vatican, the pope spoke to approximately 15,000 people while looking out a window onto St. Peter’s Square.
He occasionally rested his right hand on the ledge and put his weight on his right arm during the Angelus and his remarks that followed.
The 85-year-old pope has spent nearly two months using a wheelchair for many of his public appearances due to a right knee problem. He lately used a cane to help him navigate short distances.
On the feast of Peter and Paul, the patron saints of the Italian capital city, Pope Francis sent his warmest wishes to Romans and those who were staying in Rome. “That all may find in [Rome] a decent welcome worthy of its splendor,” he stated in his statement.
He also bemoaned the recent fire breakout in Rome, which was brought on by Italy’s drought and record-high temperatures.
“All this should make us reflect on the protection of creation, which is our responsibility,” he said. “It is not a fad, it is a responsibility: the future of the earth is in our hands and with our decisions.”