In ‘prayerful’ closeness

The second day of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey in Portugal began with a moving encounter with a group of young people from Ukraine impacted by the ongoing war. The Holy See Press Office reported that on Thursday morning, 3 August, before leaving the Apostolic Nunciature in Lisbon, the Pope met with 15 young pilgrims from Ukraine. They were accompanied by Mr Denys Kolada, the Ukrainian government’s Consultant for Religious Dialogue with Religious Organizations. After listening to their stories, the Pope expressed his “painful and prayerful” closeness to the young men and women. At the end of their conversation, which lasted about 30 minutes, they prayed an “Our Father” together, thinking especially of battered Ukraine.