Death is not defeated with more death

“Listening and accepting are still Europe’s strengths today, and how beautiful it is to keep them alive in the deafening roar of our time!”. It’s what the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said on Europe Day on 9 May. The date commemorates the signing of Venerable Robert Schuman’ s Declaration in 1950, which paved a path for lasting peace in Europe and grew into what we know today as the European Union. For the occasion, the Secretary of State celebrated Mass at the Greek Catholic Church of Santa Sofia in Rome, the “heart” of the Ukrainian community in Italy. He dedicated the liturgy to the people who have become victims of Russian armed aggression, and prayed especially to an end of war in the Eastern European country. In this world, in which sin and death seem to have the upperhand, said the Cardinal in his homily, ...