Kazakhstan: Pope prays for all the war-stricken areas of the world, including Ukraine

At the end of Mass in Nur-Sultan on September 14, Pope Francis prayed for all the war-stricken areas in the world, including Ukraine, and called for dialogue on the path toward peace.

He urged everyone to come to the aid of those who suffer and to insist that genuine efforts be made to achieve peace, noting also that these days there have been reports of outbreaks of violence in the Caucasus region.

On the second day of his three-day Apostolic Journey to Kazakhstan, Francis presided over the Mass with the participation of the faithful at the Expo grounds in Nur-Sultan.

He highlighted the feeling of spiritual union with the National Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace in Oziornoje on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

He says that from the crucified Jesus, Christians learn "love, not hatred; compassion, not indifference; forgiveness, not vengeance."

Although "the cross is a gibbet of death," Pope Francis said in his homily, "Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of Christ, for on its wood Jesus took upon Himself all our sin and the evil of the world, and vanquished them by His love."

"The embrace of the tender love of God" and "the fraternal love that we are called to have for one another and everyone."

Christians must be reborn from the crucified Jesus' pierced side. And he prayed that "we might be freed from the poison of death" and that "by God’s grace we can become ever more fully Christian: joyful witnesses of new life, love, and peace."

He recalled that the words "Gratitude to the People of Kazakhstan" and "Peace to Mankind" are inscribed on the great cross at the National Sanctuary.

"Gratitude to the Lord for the holy people of God living in this great country, joined to gratitude for its commitment to promoting dialogue, becomes a plea for peace, the peace for which our world so deeply yearns," said Pope Francis.

The Holy Father prayed for war-torn areas, especially in Ukraine, and turned his thoughts toward all the war-torn areas in the world, particularly Ukraine, praying, "We never grow accustomed to war, or resigned to its perceived inevitability."

"The one solution is peace, and the only way to arrive at peace is through dialogue," he added. 

At the end of the Mass, Pope Francis said, "I thank all of you and all those men and women who are heralds of peace and unity." -With input from Vatican News