Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has renewed his heartfelt appeal for peace in war-torn Ukraine, urging the faithful never to let hope fade despite the ongoing hardships. In a letter addressed to Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, appointed as his special envoy to celebrations in Lviv on 6 September, the Pope sent a message of solidarity and spiritual closeness to the Ukrainian people.
The Pope’s words, written in Latin but charged with deep pastoral warmth, were directed to all Christians and “people of good will” gathering for the 650th anniversary of the creation of the Metropolitan See of Halić. This historic see, later developed into today’s Archdiocese of Lviv of the Latins, continues to hold symbolic and spiritual importance for the Catholic faithful in Ukraine.
Pope Leo entrusted Cardinal Sepe, Archbishop Emeritus of Naples, with the mission of conveying his affection and his firm closeness to the Ukrainian Church and nation. The Holy Father emphasized that amid suffering and destruction, “the commandment of charity must be guarded with even greater care, both in family life and in society.”
The Pope urged the Ukrainian faithful to “nurture a living Christian hope in daily life” while imploring God for the priceless gift of peace. His appeal was both pastoral and prophetic calling on the faithful not only to resist despair but to transform suffering into witness through solidarity, forgiveness, and perseverance.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the central celebration will take place in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lviv. Cardinal Sepe will preside, accompanied by a Vatican delegation including Fr. Andriy Lehovich, personal secretary to the Archbishop of Lviv of the Latins, and Fr. Roman Broda, seminary professor and head of the Archdiocese’s Liturgical Office.
The liturgical events are not only commemorative of the 650-year history of the Halić metropolitan see but also intended as a moment of prayer for peace and renewal for a nation still gripped by war.
For Pope Leo XIV, Ukraine’s witness has become a beacon for the universal Church. By holding on to charity and hope amid devastation, the faithful give testimony that the Christian spirit cannot be extinguished by violence. “May Ukraine keep the flame of hope alive each day,” the Pope’s letter concluded, encapsulating both a pastoral exhortation and a prayer for peace.