Canada’s Catholic bishops Thursday condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling for prayers and efforts to resolve the conflict non-violently.
In a statement, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops executive committee said it “condemns the escalation of tensions and violence in the Ukraine marked by Russia’s invasion … in the form of militarization and bombing in various Ukrainian cities.”
The bishops offered their solidarity with Archbishop Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the primary spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians. “With the people of Ukraine as well as with Canadians of Ukrainian origin and descent, we encourage the faithful and all people of good will to pray for the imminent restoration of peace, dialogue, and human fraternity.”
Citing the “regrettable lessons about violence which we have all learned throughout human history,” the bishops said they “implore all involved to pursue non-violent means to resolve disputes and disagreements. The use of military force does not favour dialogue and peace; rather, it endangers innocent human life, the dignity of the human person and the security and safety of all the people caught up in this conflict.”
The bishops said, “new pathways of dialogue can be opened, even when all other avenues appear closed,” through Jesus who “came to bring the gift of peace.”
The statement closed, “With Pope Francis, who has entrusted this situation to the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, we ask Our Lady, through her powerful intercession, to open hearts so that anger, resentment, and division may start to be healed and that any further escalation of unnecessary violence may be avoided.”
