Italy: A Ukrainian and a Russian will raise the cross

Thousands of people will be able to watch the representation of Jesus’ martyrdom at the Colosseum tonight. After strict checks by the police and the carabinieri, the ceremony will begin at nine and four in the evening, in the presence of Pope Francis.

It is clear that the Pope wants to send a strong message against the war, emphasizing the need for the will to reconcile to prevail. Shortly before the completion of via Crucis, the Road of Martyrdom, the Cross will be lifted by Russians and Ukrainians.

As the Italian newspaper La Repubblica writes today, this decision was not approved by either the Russian or the Ukrainian embassy despite the Holy See. The Ukrainian ambassador even referred to an “initiative, which has caused widespread concern.” Francis, however, decided not to change the program already announced by the Vatican. By showing, in essence, that the principles of Christians, in such a difficult time, can not always be identified with the wishes of politicians.

A symbolic gesture

According to the latest information, the wooden cross, at the thirteenth stop of Via Crucis, will finally be lifted by a Ukrainian and a Russian nurse, Irina and Albina.

They work together in a hospital in Rome and as soon as the war broke out, Albina hugged her colleague and told her how she felt great pain and shame for what was happening. The text to be read tonight calls on the Lord to help bring peace and a spirit of brotherhood to the very place where bombshells are trying to level everything these days.

Finally, Francis still hopes that his call for a ceasefire, with a real truce, of the Catholic and Orthodox Easter will be heard.

Theodoros Andreadis Siggelakis, Rome

Source: Deutsche Welle