Vatican City - As the war wages on in Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in February, and in the face of continued attacks, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, presided over a special Mass for peace in Ukraine held at Rome's Marian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
There were ambassadors and representatives from more than 60 countries in attendance at the Mass to commemorate 30 years of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Holy See.
Cardinal Parolin remembered those suffering in his homily, and prayed for an end to the war.
"There is no situation so compromised that the Spirit of God cannot resurrect," he stressed.
A road for reconstruction
Among the rubble, he said, is a road for reconstruction.
The Cardinal prayed to the Lord "to pour out His Spirit to free humanity from the scourge of armed strife," noting that, "God, in fact, wants everyone to live in harmony, not annihilating each other, but helping each other to grow."
The divine desire, he said, is for "an authentic human fraternity."
Willingness to break the cycle of violence
He also urged them to never give in to resentment.
Jesus, Cardinal Parolin observed, "challenges every man with shocking questions: He invites us to turn the other cheek."
"These are words that lacerate the heart of those who are victims of injustice, they may be shocking," he recognized, "but they should not be interpreted as an invitation from the Lord to bend to injustice."
"In fact," the Vatican Secretary of State continued, "He does not demand unjust things," but requests our willingness to cooperate in breaking the vicious cycle of violence.
Need to be vigilant against evil growing within ourselves
The Lord invites us to be vigilant and not to give in to rancour.
"If it is legitimate to defend ourselves from those who want to overwhelm us, it is even more legitimate to defend ourselves from hatred and vengeance: we cannot allow external evil to end, while evil within us grows."
Jesus offers us this example, and assists us, as He asks us, to be "capable of sowing life where others spread death."
Even a desert can be transformed into a flourishing garden
Cardinal Parolin prayed to the Lord for peace.
"There is no situation so compromised that God's Spirit cannot resurrect. Our prayer for peace is rooted here."
Cardinal Parolin told those present that in this way, "even a desert, can be transformed into a flourishing garden."
Pope Francis has been making numerous appeals for peace in Ukraine since the start of the war, and has offered the Holy See's availability to help in every possible way.
-VN