Pope Francis invited us to follow the example of the martyrs José and Victoria Ulma and their 7 children, recently beatified in Markowa, Poland.
The Holy Father highlighted that this family was “exterminated by the Nazis on 24 March 1944 for having given shelter to persecuted Jews.”
Next, he highlighted that “they opposed evangelical love to hatred and violence, which characterized that time.”
“May this Polish family, which represented a ray of light in the darkness of the Second World War, be for all of us a model to imitate in zeal for good and in service to those in need,” urged the Pontiff.
After asking for applause for the new blesseds, Pope Francis invited us to “follow their example” and feel called “to oppose the force of arms with that of charity and the rhetoric of violence with the tenacity of prayer.”
“Let’s do it especially for so many countries that suffer from war; In a special way, let us intensify our prayer for the tormented Ukraine,” said the Holy Father.
Pope Francis pointed to the Ukrainian flags in St. Peter’s Square and once again remembered the Ukrainian people “who suffer so much.”