Cardinal Michael Czerny continues in his role as Pope Francis’ special envoy, departing for Slovakia on Wednesday before traveling toward Ukraine to bring the Pope’s closeness to Ukrainian refugees crossing the border.
By Vatican News staff writer
Following his recent four-day mission to Hungary, Cardinal Michael Czerny, the interim Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, is expected to leave again for Slovakia to bring Pope Francis’ closeness to refugees crossing into the country from neighbouring Ukraine.
Pope’s closeness to Ukainian refugees
According to the Holy See Press Office, the Jesuit Cardinal will arrive in Slovakia on 16 March, and will travel to the Ukrainian border in the following days.
Through his envoy, the Holy Father wishes, once again, to convey his prayerful “closeness to those fleeing the fighting in Ukraine and suffering violence at the hand of other men,” the press statement said.
Continuing care and concern
Cardinal Czerny stayed in Hungary and briefly visited Ukraine from 7 to 10 March, while Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Pope’s Almoner, went to Ukraine, entering via the Polish-Ukrainian border. He went first to Budapest, where he met Ukrainian refugees at the two main train stations in the Hungarian capital and many volunteers who were helping the refugees there and in other locations he visited, including the Jesuit Refugee Service center in Budapest.
He also traveled to the Hungarian-Ukrainian border town of Barabás, where refugees enter Hungary and where the Hungarian government, Caritas Hungary and other charitable organizations welcome them. From there he was driven across the border to Beregove, Ukraine, to meet with the local Eastern and Latin-rite Catholic bishops.
Pope Francis announced he was sending the two papal envoys during the Angelus prayer on 6 March.
