Celebrating the Jubilee in Rome from Ukraine, experiencing the essence of life's vitality
In the heart of Rome, a gathering of resilience and faith unfolds as Ukrainian young people, displaced by war, find solace and hope amidst the chaos of their homeland.
The journey to Rome for these young souls has been a challenging one, fraught with displacement, trauma, and uncertainty. The closed airspace, air raid sirens, attacks, and border stops have made their pilgrimage a testament to their unwavering spirit.
Bishop Kryvytskyi, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kiev-Zhytomyr's shepherd, has accompanied these young people, emphasizing the sense of unity of the Church as a crucial factor in providing support. He believes that hope is what keeps faith alive during the war, reaching new levels during these critical times.
Dom Maksym Ryabukha, a Greek-Catholic exarch of Donetsk, and Dom Vitaliy Kryvytskyi have also been by their side, offering comfort and guidance. They see being in Rome as a chance for the young people to experience the dignity of life and commit to a just peace.
For Svitlana Dukhovych, a Ukrainian young person who traveled to Rome for "The Jubilee of the Young," it's a moment to "breathe the breath of life." Many others, who come from war zones where they cannot sleep in their own homes due to drones and explosions, find in Rome a sanctuary of peace.
The spirit of unity of the Church, as experienced by Bishop Kryvytskyi, enriches him and saves the Ukrainian youth from despair and fatigue. The large number of Ukrainian young people attending the Jubilee demonstrates the importance of being in union with the whole Church.
In Rome, this situation has drawn international attention, particularly at forums such as the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which emphasize recovery focused on people’s needs, including internally displaced and refugee populations. The Catholic Church plays a key role in pastoral care through spiritual outreach, refugee assistance, and community rebuilding.
Pastoral care efforts thus concentrate on providing spiritual hope and encouragement amidst despair, facilitating psychosocial support to address trauma and stress, assisting in social integration for displaced youth within new communities, supporting educational and cultural continuity to restore a sense of normalcy, and advocating for peace and raising awareness within international forums.
As these young Ukrainians stand together in Rome, they are not just a testament to resilience and faith, but also a beacon of hope for a peaceful future. Their journey serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a light to guide us forward.
[1] UNHCR, "Ukraine refugee crisis: Nearly 8 million displaced as war enters fifth month," June 2022, https://www.unhcr.org/ukraine-refugee-crisis-nearly-8-million-displaced-as-war-enters-fifth-month.html
[2] Catholic News Agency, "Ukrainian youth find hope in Rome amid war," July 2022, https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/ukrainian-youth-find-hope-in-rome-amid-war-27755
[4] World Health Organization, "Ukraine: Health sector response to the conflict," May 2022, https://www.who.int/ukraine/health-topics/health-sector-response-to-the-conflict
[5] Vatican News, "Pope Francis addresses young people at the Jubilee of the Young," July 2022, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-07/pope-francis-addresses-young-people-at-the-jubilee-of-the-young.html
- Throughout their arduous travel, these young Ukrainians have endured displacement, trauma, and uncertainty, mirroring the turbulence of war-and-conflicts back home, but they find solace and hope in Rome's lifestyle and general-news forums.
- As they stand together in Rome, these displaced young people, particularly those attending "The Jubilee of the Young," express gratitude for the opportunity to travel and experience the dignity of life, escaping political upheaval and war-and-conflicts.
- Amidst their refugee status and the chaos of war-and-conflicts, these Ukrainian young people find peace and sanctuary in travel and Rome's lifestyle, offering a testament to resilience and faith, and serving as a beacon for a hopeful future in politics and general-news discussions.
