The Pope advised the member of the Italian organization “Ricetrasmissioni CB”, a volunteer group through radio, “Ukrainians will have more difficulties than now.
The Holy Father affirmed that this organization, which celebrates its 50th anniversary, is part of the “Italian volunteer movement that I do not stop appreciating” and assured that this type of organization must be encouraged and supported.
The Pope stressed on Saturday, that the volunteers put their gifts and passion for radio at the service of society and the common good, helping “the most needy and fragile people and the most vulnerable groups.”
The Pontiff then highlighted “the speed of intervention” through the radio, which breaks down barriers and allows “news and information to circulate very quickly and everywhere”.
“Think how decisive this can be when a regime or other center of power wants to control communications. It is essential to maintain freedom, to be truly at the service of people, of the common good,” the Pope said.
The Holy Father also thanked the help that this organization makes available to the victims of the war in Ukraine, “something shameful for all of us, for all humanity.”
“We hope and pray that this war ends soon: it is unacceptable; each passing day adds more death and destruction. Many people have mobilized to help the refugees. Ordinary people, especially in neighboring countries, but also here in Italy, where thousands of Ukrainians have arrived and continue to arrive”, the Pope pointed out.
In his message to the Italian volunteers, the Pope assured that “Europe is responding to this war not only at the level of the highest institutions, but also at the level of civil society, of volunteer associations like yours”.
“We must help the Ukrainian refugees, not only now, but later, when the memory of the war fades, because then they will have more difficulties than now: because now we are all together, and then. We must think about the future, and it is not easy”, the Holy Father clarified.