Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes, Metropolitan Archbishop of Managua, announced that the Catholic Church of Nicaragua will join the call made by Pope Francis to consecrate Russia and Ukraine for the purpose of ending the war.
“Pope Francis has addressed an invitation to the episcopate so that together with the holy people of God we unite, on March 25, in his intention to consecrate the nations of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” says the Archdiocese’s statement. .
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“We all understand and share the pope’s conviction that prayer can transform the minds, wills and attitudes of human beings so that, abandoning actions of violence and death, we know how to live together respecting the rights of individuals and peoples”, affirmed the highest authority of the Catholic Church in the country.
In the statement dated March 20, Brenes reported that through the Church’s media and social networks they will join virtually “and spiritually to the prayer of consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that the Pope will perform. Francisco at 10:00 a.m., Nicaraguan time…”
He indicated that on the same day of the consecration, a mass will be celebrated at noon in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua, “in which we will pray the prayer of consecration in communion with the pope and with my brother Nicaraguan bishops who will also do so from their respective dioceses.” ».
“I invite the archdiocesan clergy to offer the prayer and meditation of the Holy Way of the Cross, the evening mass for the intentions of the pope, likewise, together with their parish communities, also pray the consecration prayer,” the archbishop directed.
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On March 24, Russia began bombing Ukraine. According to data from the Ukrainian government, there are already thousands of victims and irreparable damage to infrastructure.
“The citizens of Ukraine who have had to leave their country as a result of the war amount to more than 2.8 million,” according to data from the United Nations (UN).
The military actions ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin have been condemned by the international community. Few allies—including Nicaragua—support the Kremlin invasion.
