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Francis highlights the need for the Act of Consecration "amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world"
Pope Francis prays the Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (Photo courtesy of Vatican News)
By La Croix International staff | Vatican City
Pope Francis who presided over a Lenten penitential service and consecrated all humanity—especially Russia and Ukraine—to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, said the war reminds us of our "helplessness and our inadequacy" as well as of our need for the "closeness of God and the certainty of His forgiveness."
Pope Francis presided over the annual "24 Hours for the Lord" Lenten penance service in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday evening.
Toward the end of the liturgy, the pope prayed the Act of Consecration of humanity, especially of Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He prayed in communion with all Catholic bishops across the globe.
Earlier, the pope had asked bishops and Catholics all over the world to spiritually join him in St. Peter's Basilica for the Act of Consecration on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25.
In his homily at the service, Pope Francis reflected on humanity's need for God's forgiveness and on the meaning of the consecration.
"This is no magic formula but a spiritual act. It is an act of complete trust on the part of children who, amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their Mother, reposing all their fears and pain in her heart and abandoning themselves to her," he said.
Pope Francis lamented the "vicious war" in Ukraine, which has killed many and caused immense suffering.
"In these days, news reports and scenes of death continue to enter our homes, even as bombs are destroying the homes of many of our defenseless Ukrainian brothers and sisters," he said.
The war reminds us of our "helplessness and our inadequacy", as well as of our need for the "closeness of God and the certainty of His forgiveness" he said.
God alone can eliminate evil, disarm resentment, and restore peace to our hearts, he said.
Pope Francis said God chose Mary to change history by beginning a new story of "salvation and peace."
"If we want the world to change, then first our hearts must change," he said.
"To find peace we must conform to the heart of Mary"
Francis' decision to consecrate Russia, Ukraine and the whole of humanity to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is in keeping with the tradition of the Church's Magisterium, which has always looked to the Blessed Mother to entrust oneself in times of trial.
"To find peace we must conform to the heart of Mary, a heart that loves immensely," Mariologist Father Stefano Cecchin, OFM, President of the International Pontifical Marian Academy, told Vatican News.
Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, says that the Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary entails conversion and reconciliation of ourselves to God.
"But conversion does not mean converting to a denomination, a certain Church, or a confession. Rather, conversion concerns all people -- Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Baptists, and followers of other religions," the recently-appointed Lithuania-born nuncio to Ukraine told Vatican News.
"Conversion means to become a real human person, living the solidarity and fraternity among people. That is why this act of consecration doesn't mean a magic moment that we just ask the Virgin Mary to protect us and find the solutions to this war and all kinds of wars. But, we should participate ourselves with our conversion."
This is why Pope Francis chose to start the Act of Consecration with the penitential act, with confession and our reconciliation with God, he said.
"When we reconcile ourselves with the Lord and with humanity, with our brothers and sisters, then we can say that we have done our part, accomplished our mission, what is possible with what belongs to us, and what is our responsibility in building peace," said Archbishop Kulbokas, who since the beginning of the war has chosen to stay in Kyiv together with his collaborators to be close to the Ukrainian people.
The pope's Act of Consecration comes a month since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
The United Nations estimates that 6.5 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine due to war and that 3.2 million refugees have already fled the country.
In the month since Russia's military invaded Ukraine, it has laid waste to cities across Ukraine.
At least 816 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since conflict began, according to the UN, which has said actual figures are believed to be considerably higher but not available as intense hostilities hamper reporting and verification. Ukraine said the figure is 3,000 in Mariupol and Kharkiv alone.
The deputy head of Russia's military general staff says that 1,351 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine. Col.-Gen. Sergei Rudskoi also said Friday that 3,825 have been wounded.
NATO estimated on Wednesday that 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in four weeks of war in Ukraine.
Click here for the official translation of the Act of Consecration.
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