Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon echoed the call of Pope Francis to pray and make sacrifices for the people of Ukraine as the Catholic world marked Ash Wednesday on March 2.
The pope has appealed for prayers for an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for the silencing of the guns and the opening of humanitarian corridors to those fleeing the war.
“God is with those who work for peace, not with those who use violence,” the pope said.
Buzon said Ukraine is being unjustly invaded by Russia that is a super power, ‘it’s like David and Goliath”.
He said the Philippines is lucky that the EDSA People Power revolution was successful and without any bloodshed.
“The Palace joins the country and the entire world in praying for an early and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. We reiterate the position of the Philippines that war benefits no one, and that it exacts a tragic, bloody toll on the lives of innocent men, women, and children in the areas of conflict,” Malacañang also said in a statement Wednesday.
“The conflict in Ukraine has economic, trade, and human resource implications for our country and for our people. As we monitor the current situation, every Filipino has the right to know what the government is doing to prepare for any eventuality,” it said.
Meanwhile, Buzon also reminded the faithful to continue to practice basic health protocols against COVID-19 even if Bacolod’s status has been lowered to Alert Level 1.*