Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, has arrived in Ukraine on behalf of Pope Leo XIV to bring the Pontiff’s direct support to populations severely impacted by the ongoing war. Accompanied by Dicastery Undersecretary Massimo Ralli, the papal delegation initiated its mission in Kyiv following a 12-hour journey from Warsaw, Poland. The visit—running through October 30—includes stops in key regions such as Fastiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro, focusing on meetings with Church communities, local volunteers, and charitable organizations assisting vulnerable families, children, the elderly, and soldiers.
During his stop in Kyiv, Archbishop Marín visited a Caritas-Spes humanitarian centre alongside Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas and local church leaders. The centre delivers crucial food distribution, temporary housing, and specialized psychological care—particularly for women raising children alone while their husbands serve at the front. Special attention is dedicated to children whose social development and schooling have been interrupted for years by both the pandemic and the ongoing conflict. Archbishop Marín also inspected and blessed underground shelters equipped with camp beds, hot meals, and power generators, which offer residents safe refuge and warmth during heavy bombardments.
The Papal Almoner extended his visit across multiple Kyiv communities, including an under-construction Catholic parish and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. Both centers serve hundreds of daily hot meals to individuals regardless of their faith, while also providing military chaplaincy services and psychological support to soldiers. Concluding his Kyiv itinerary, Archbishop Marín visited a growing community centre founded by a military chaplain beside a bombed building, highlighting how pastoral care, material aid, and family activities continue to offer hope and solidarity amidst destruction.