KENYA: Nuncio in Kenya Echoes Pope Francis’ Call for Bishops to Join in Ukraine, Russia Consecration
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya Archbishop Hubertus van Megen has reiterated the Holy Father’s worldwide clarion call to Catholic Bishops, together with priests and all people of good will to join in the Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday, March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation which the Pope himself will lead.
In the letter addressed to prelates and clerics and forwarded to all parishes and Religious houses in Kenya Archbishop van Megen writes in reference to the request, “The Holy Father intends to invite each Bishop, or equivalent in law, together with his priests and all people of good will to join in this act of consecration, if possible, at an hour corresponding to 5:00 pm Rome time. (7:00pm EAT).”
“In the coming days, the Holy Father will send a letter of invitation to all Bishops forwarding the text of the Prayer of Consecration,” the Nuncio who doubles as the Pope’s representative in South Sudan added in the letter dated Monday, March 21.
From the Holy Press message the officials noted that during the Celebration of Penance in Saint Peter’s Basilica on the day of the consecration March 25, “Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the same act will be carried out in Fatima by His Eminence Cardinal Krajewski, Apostolic Almoner, as envoy of the Holy Father.”
On February 24, Russian military crossed into Ukraine causing tragic invasion which has led to several deaths as Ukrainians flee to neighboring countries.
Pope Francis had earlier called for March 2, Ash Wednesday, to be a day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine and asked the people of God to pray that “the Queen of Peace will preserve the world from the madness of war.”
He further prayed that “all the parties involved refrain from any action that would cause even more suffering to the people, destabilizing coexistence between nations and bringing international law into disrepute.”
