On Friday, 25 March, Pope Francis presided over the penitential liturgy in St Peter’s Basilica, during which he made a plea to consecrate and entrust humanity, and especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: “At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ.  The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you….

Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons. Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. Make us artisans of communion.”

The celebration in the Vatican Basilica, packed with some 3,500 cardinals, bishops, religious and faithful, was also attended by an Order of Malta delegation led by the Lieutenant of the Grand Master, Fra’ Marco Luzzago, together with the Grand Commander Fra’ Ruy de Villas-Boas, Fra’ Roberto Viazzo and the Order of Malta’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Antonio Zanardi Landi.

Two years ago, on 27 March 2020, the Pope pleaded “for the end of the pandemic” from St Peter’s Square.

Photo credit : Foto © Vatican Media