At Pentecost, Pope Francis prayed for peace for the “many peoples around the world”, especially for “martyred Ukraine”. He called on Christians to ensure harmony in the church.
Christians around the world celebrated Pentecost with church services. At the mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis invoked the harmony in the church and criticized the state of society. “In today’s world there is so much strife, so great divisions. We are all interconnected and yet disconnected, numbed by indifference, oppressed by loneliness,” said the head of the Catholic Church. “So many wars, so many conflicts: it seems unbelievable what evil man can do!”
Prayers for Ukraine and Myanmar
At Pentecost, believers celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit, who is supposed to bring the love of God to Christians. After the Regina Caeli prayer in front of the faithful, the pope asked the Blessed Virgin Mary for peace “for the many peoples around the world, especially in the martyred Ukraine”. He also appealed to the rulers in Myanmar to allow international aid to the people after cyclone “Mocha”. About two weeks ago, “Mocha” caused flooding, landslides and storm damage. At least 400 people died.
He recalled the importance of the Holy Spirit for the World Synod of the Catholic Church. To be filled with the Spirit, the people of God must walk together, Francis said. “This is how harmony is renewed in the Church: by walking together, with the Spirit in the centre. Let’s create harmony in the Church!”
The Pope recalled the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, according to which the Holy Spirit descends on the unsettled disciples after the death of Jesus. “He does not erase the differences, the cultures, but harmonizes everything without standardizing, without unifying.” Differing from the speech manuscript, Francis added: “This should give us food for thought right now, in a world that is trying to bring everything into line.”
Francis had canceled his audiences on Friday due to fever. But he seemed fit again at the weekend. On Saturday, he drove to a Rai public television studio for an interview. According to the Vatican, this was the first time a pope had entered a TV studio for a broadcast. The interview is scheduled to air on June 4th.