Pope Francis on Sunday deplored the “rivers of blood and tears” flowing in Ukraine following the Russian invasion, and called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors there, Belga News Agency reports.
"Rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine,” the Pope said as he delivered his weekly Angelus address to the faithful assembled in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, many of whom held aloft the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine. “It is not merely a military operation, but a war, which sows death, destruction and misery.”
“The number of victims is increasing, as are the people fleeing, especially mothers and children. The need for humanitarian assistance in that troubled country is growing dramatically by the hour,” the Argentinian pope added, who has called repeatedly for an end to the fighting.
“I make a heartfelt appeal for humanitarian corridors to be genuinely secured, and for aid to be guaranteed and access facilitated to the besieged areas in order to offer vital relief to our brothers and sisters oppressed by bombs and fear,” he urged.
The 85-year-old pontiff called for negotiations, common sense and respect for international law to prevail. He also thanked journalists who “place their lives in danger” to inform the world on events in Ukraine.
