Ukrainian nun on front lines meets Pope Leo, pleads for help to ‘end the war’
Basilian Sister Lucia Murashko, who lives just 12 miles from the front line of Russia’s war on Ukraine, met Pope Leo XIV on May 18, 2026 during a private audience with the Catholic Extension Society. She presented the Pope with several gifts, including photographs of two Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity. During the meeting she pleaded for assistance to help end the war. The audience took place at the Vatican and was part of the Catholic Extension Society’s outreach to the poorest regions of the U.S. and surrounding areas.
4 months ago
Ukrainian Basilian Sister Lucia Murashko, serving on the front lines near Zaporizhzhia, met Pope Leo XIV on May 18 2026 during a private audience with the Catholic Extension Society. She presented the pontiff with an icon, a traditional rushnyk, and photographs of two Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity, pleading for the Pope’s help to end the war and to bring attention to the suffering of her community 1.
Sister Lucia described the meeting as an emotional moment that brought her to tears. Pope Leo XIV praised the Catholic Extension Society’s work in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and among immigrant families in the United States, and encouraged its continued pastoral outreach 1.
The nun handed the Pope an icon painted by Sister Bernadette, featuring Christ and Mary in mourning, wrapped in a simple rushnyk to reflect Ukraine’s hardship. She also gave photos of two captured Ukrainian soldiers, supplied by a grieving mother named Oksana, asking the Pope to remember them and their families 1.
Sister Lucia relayed the prayers of those she serves, emphasizing that Ukrainians “would not surrender” despite daily bombings and the banning of the Ukrainian Greek‑Catholic Church by Russian forces. She expressed hope that the papal blessing would strengthen their resolve 1.
A released Ukrainian soldier shared that he survived nine months of Russian captivity through prayer, bearing no hatred toward his captors. Sister Lucia highlighted his “pure soul” as a model of forgiveness and spiritual endurance 1.
After returning to Ukraine, Sister Lucia said the papal encounter would sustain her ministry among displaced families and refugees, reinforcing her invitation for Pope Leo XIV to visit Ukraine 1.
Examine Catholic Church’s role in advocating peace amid Ukraine war
The Catholic Church’s advocacy for peace amid the war in Ukraine shows a consistent pattern: moral teaching grounded in human dignity, active diplomatic engagement through the Holy See’s multilateral presence, and practical concern for the vulnerable, especially refugees—while also insisting that any peace must respect international law and (as the Church also emphasizes) Ukraine’s right to legitimate self-defence.
Catholic statements treat peace not as a mere absence of fighting, but as a moral and legal reality tied to the truth about the human person and the common good.
In an address concerning Ukraine at the United Nations, the Holy See frames war as a direct attack on a deeper vocation: “The first victim of every war is ‘the human family’s innate vocation to fraternity.’”
This means peace advocacy is not only humanitarian; it is also anthropological (about what humans are) and social (about how peoples should live together).
The same UN address stresses that member states have a duty to resolve disputes through “negotiation, mediation or by other peaceful means.”
Pope Francis is also cited calling for restraint: parties should “refrain from any action that would cause more suffering… destabilise coexistence between nations and undermine international law.”
At the Security Council, Archbishop Gallagher warns that unless the war is stopped and peace is sought, the world risks deeper crises, then insists the international community must work toward “a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
He also emphasizes that peace becomes real through both institutional commitment and personal conversion: “Everyone knows what peace is… when there is a common commitment… also in our own hearts and homes.”
A distinctive feature of Catholic peace advocacy in this context is the Holy See’s sustained engagement with international diplomacy—especially via the UN system.
Archbishop Caccia (Holy See) speaks in terms of the UN Charter’s purpose: the founding aim is to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and to practice tolerance and live in peace as neighbors.
From that premise, the Church argues that the international community must unite in support for diplomacy and peace.
Gallagher similarly frames the Church’s approach as consistent with multilateralism: member states—especially Security Council members—are called to join efforts for peace, while the Holy See supports humanitarian initiatives and urges states and organizations to become “artisans of peace and weavers of constructive dialogue.”
Beyond the Holy See, bishops in Europe—through COMECE—issue appeals that echo the same core themes: solidarity with Ukraine, condemnation of the war’s brutality, insistence on negotiation, and concern for refugees.
In 2023, a COMECE assembly statement calls for a strong appeal to the aggressors to “immediately to suspend the hostilities” and to all parties to open themselves to negotiation of “serious proposals” for a just peace that respects international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
In 2022, COMECE leadership warns that escalating rhetoric and actions threaten not only Ukraine but European peace overall, and it urges steps leading to de-escalation and confidence-building, rooted in “truthful dialogue and rooted in international law.”
Cardinal Hollerich’s statement also explicitly argues that the path should be negotiation, not steps that reinforce armament dynamics.
These episcopal appeals often include formal invitations to pray for peace and for wisdom for political leaders. For instance, COMECE calls on the faithful and people of good will to pray for leaders to pursue “the pathway of reconciliation and peace through dialogue and constructive cooperation.”
Peace advocacy is also expressed as concrete concern for those suffering the war.
The 2023 COMECE appeal emphasizes grief for victims and closeness to families, and it includes prayerful solidarity with refugees—“mostly women and children”—forced to leave their homes.
In 2022, COMECE frames refugee welcome as a vocation and duty: European societies and governments are urged to welcome refugees fleeing war and violence and to protect them as brothers and sisters.
At the UN level, Gallagher states that the Holy See is close to Ukraine and engages in “humanitarian initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Ukrainian population,” especially the most vulnerable.
Catholic advocacy includes highlighting credible mediating or facilitating efforts.
In a 2025 press conference, Pope Leo XIV refers to Turkey’s prior helpful role in bringing parties together for dialogue and hopes for renewed efforts to promote dialogue and a ceasefire: “President Erdoğan… will be able to help… to promote dialogue and a ceasefire.”
This shows the Church’s approach: support ceasefire and dialogue prospects, while continuing to urge creative diplomacy.
Catholic peace advocacy in this context is not a one-note call to “peace at any price.” The Church simultaneously upholds clear principles and recognizes legitimate security concerns.
Gallagher states that the Holy See “fully upholds [Ukraine’s] territorial integrity” while engaging in humanitarian initiatives.
A COMECE background document stresses that “lasting peace will only be possible on the basis of a negotiated agreement,” while also affirming: “the right of Ukraine to legitimate self-defence in line with the principles of international law cannot be denied.”
Implication: Catholic advocacy for peace here is not equivalent to endorsing passivity or ignoring law-of-war realities; it seeks a negotiated end while insisting on justice, law, and the protection of peoples.
From these sources, the Church’s role in advocating peace amid the Ukraine war can be summarized as:
Peace advocacy here is therefore best understood as an integrated approach: truth + justice + negotiation + mercy, directed toward a settlement that can actually hold and restore lawful coexistence.