In Ukraine, a bill was passed with an overwhelming majority that would ban all Orthodox churches that have ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. They gave a nine-month deadline to all the Orthodox churches to severe any ties that could connect them to the Moscow Patriarchate.

Pope Francis expressed his fears and worries over this decision of the Ukrainian government. After the Angelus Prayer, the pope called for peace and prayers for the end of ongoing conflicts as well as raised his concern about the ban that threatens multiple Orthodox churches in Ukraine.

“I continue to follow with sorrow the fighting in Ukraine and the Russian Federation. And in thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine, I fear for the freedom of those who pray, because those who truly pray always pray for all. A person does not commit evil because of praying. If someone commits evil against his people, he will be guilty for it, but he cannot have committed evil because he prayed. So let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their Church. Please, let no Christian Church be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches are not to be touched!”

Pope Francis and the Holy See always raised their voices for peace and the protection of churches. They not only raised their voices but sent aid, advocated for the end of conflicts in every channel, and contributed to saving the lives and freedom of many.

Source: Vatican News