Fast and pray for peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, March 2　A Statement from the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan

Despite repeated calls for peace and dialogue by the international community, tensions along the border between Ukraine and Russia resulted in a military invasion by Russia on February 24. Many lives are now at risk.

It is our duty as children of God to protect God’s gift of life.

I call on Russia’s leaders to halt the invasion of Ukraine and walk the path of establishing peace through dialogue.

War does not occur naturally; it is created by humans. On the eve of World War II, amid rising tensions between nations in Europe, Pope Pius XII called on the world for peace, saying, “Nothing is lost by peace; everything may be lost by war.” (Radio broadcast message, August 24, 1939).

After the war, when the East-West conflict deepened and the crisis of nuclear war became a reality, Pope John XIII wrote the encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) and recalled the words of Pius XII: “Here, then, we have an objective dictated first of all by reason. There is general agreement—or at least there should be—that relations between States, as between individuals, must be regulated not by armed force, but in accordance with the principles of right reason: the principles, that is, of truth, justice and vigorous and sincere co-operation”　(Pacem in Terris, 114). He argued that issues between nations should be solved without relying on the use of force that threatens life and human dignity.

Today, I am concerned that we see the decision of a major power to invade an independent country not only bring life into crisis now but that it will have a tremendous negative impact on the future world order.

I sincerely call on political leaders to seek a solution through dialogue so that our “common home” is kept peaceful and God’s true order is established.

In a public audience on February 23, Pope Francis said God is “the God of peace and not of war; who is the Father of all, not just of some, who wants us to be brothers and not enemies,” and, “Jesus taught us that the diabolical senselessness of violence is answered with God’s weapons, with prayer and fasting.” He then designated this year’s Ash Wednesday (March 2) as a special day of fasting and prayer for peace.

We will fast and pray for peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, March 2. In solidarity with the many people who are in fear for their lives we pray for peace. And we pray that God, the Giver of Life, will guide political leaders.