A consultor to the Dicastery for the Clergy said that because the priest is “a man among men, it is necessary to cultivate and rethink the psycho-affective formation of priests.”

“We implore the Lord God to end the war in Ukraine,” Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk continued. “We wish that, with God’s help, this year will finally bring us the long-awaited, just, and lasting peace, and that it will be a year of rebuilding Ukraine, which should become better than it was before the war.”

The Major Archbishop also said that 2025 was a year of hope, and that “thanks to this power of hope, we were able to resist the plans of the Russian aggressor.” The year 2025, he added, was “a year of resilience for us, which is the secret of our victory.”

“In the face of the events that our country is experiencing today, let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom, and strength,” the bishops said. “We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and the families of those who died. Let us persevere in prayer for the unity of our people.”

“We call on the People of God to live more intensely in hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society, and we reject any type of violence,” they continued. “May our hands be open for encounter and mutual help, and may the decisions that are made always be for the good of our people.”

Pope Leo said yesterday that he was following developments in Venezuela “with a heart full of concern” and that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail above every other consideration.”

Pope Leo XIV said today that he is following developments in Venezuela “with a heart full of concern” (video, 12:39).