In an interview marking the 1,000th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, condemned the continued suffering of the martyred Ukrainian people and urged greater diplomatic efforts to stop the genocide.
Andrea Tornielli
“We cannot accept the inevitability of war!” This was firmly confirmed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin in an interview with Vatican media on November 19, the 1,000th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On the eve of his trip to the G20 in Brazil, the Vatican Secretary of State expressed his hope that this tragic day would “awaken in everyone a sense of responsibility, especially in those who can stop the ongoing genocide.”
In July of this year, Cardinal Parolin visited the Ukrainian cities of Lviv, Odessa and kyiv.
Cardinal Parolin’s complete conversation in interview
Question: What is going through your mind right now?
Cardinal Parolin: It can only be a deep sadness because we cannot get used to or be indifferent to the news that brings us more death and destruction every day. Ukraine is a nation that has been attacked and martyred, that has witnessed the sacrifice of entire generations of men, both young and old, who were torn from their studies, work and families and sent to the front. You are experiencing the tragedy of those who watch their loved ones die in bombs or drone strikes and the suffering of those who have lost their homes or are forced to live in precarious conditions due to war.
Question: What can we do to help Ukraine?
Cardinal Parolin: First of all, as Christians we can and must pray. We must pray for God to change the hearts of the “warlords.” We must continue to pray to the intercession of Mary, especially venerated in countries that received baptism many centuries ago.
Secondly, we can commit to ensuring that our solidarity never wanes towards those who suffer, need care, endure the cold or have nothing. The Church in Ukraine is doing a lot for the people, sharing every day the difficult situation of a nation at war.
Thirdly, we, as a community, as individuals, can raise our voices to demand peace. We can shout, ask to be heard, and consider peace initiatives. We can reject the war and the insane arms race that Pope Francis continues to condemn. The feeling of helplessness in the face of what is happening is understandable, but it is even more true that, as a human family, we can do a lot together.
Question: What can be done today to stop the sound of guns?
Cardinal Parolin: It is correct to say “at least stop the sound of weapons”, because it takes time to negotiate a just peace, while a ceasefire shared by all parties involved can be possible in just a few hours, if there is will . Yes. As the Holy Father often says, we need people who are willing to bet not on war but on peace, people who are willing to assume the enormous responsibility that a continuation of the conflict would entail, not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe. and the world.
This war can drag us towards the danger of a nuclear conflict and push us into the abyss. The Vatican is doing everything it can to keep the channels of communication open to all people, but it seems that the clock of history has turned back. Diplomatic efforts, patient dialogue and constructive dialogue have disappeared as relics of the past. It is the victims and the innocent who pay the price. War is stealing the future from children and younger generations, creating division and fueling hatred.
How desperately we need politicians who are visionaries, who are capable of brave acts of humility and who care about the well-being of their people. Forty years ago, in Rome, a peace treaty was signed between Argentina and Chile, resolving the Beagle Channel dispute with the mediation of the Holy See. Just a few years ago, the two nations were on the brink of war, with armies already mobilized. Everything stopped, thank God: countless lives were saved, tears stopped. Why can’t this feeling be rediscovered today in the heart of Europe?
Question: Do you think there is still room to reach an agreement?
Cardinal Parolin: Although the signs are not positive, for those who truly value the sanctity of human life, dialogue is always possible and desirable. Speaking out is not a sign of weakness but a sign of courage. The path of “honest negotiation” and “respectful compromise” is the main path that must be followed by those who have the destiny of the people in their hands. Dialogue is only possible when there is at least a minimum level of trust between the parties, which requires good faith on the part of all. If there is not an iota of trust and if sincerity is lacking in actions, everything remains stagnant.
Conflict and death continue in Ukraine, the Holy Land and many other places. We cannot accept the inevitability of war. I believe that this tragic day, the 1,000th day of the invasion of Ukraine, will awaken a sense of responsibility in everyone, especially those who can stop the ongoing genocide.
