CBCP urges faithful to fast, pray for peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday

In the midst of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the faithful to fast and pray for peace on Ash Wednesday.

CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David deplored the ongoing conflict between the two countries, saying that the public must show solidarity with the people of Ukraine who "are now asking for prayers."

“Nobody is happy about war except those in the arms industries who make huge profits and stand to benefit from the disputes among nations,” David said in a statement.

The Filipino Catholic bishops have also joined the call of Pope Francis for fasting and prayer in light of Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

“The Lord Himself taught us that there is no other way to combat the enticements of the devil especially among those who are obsessed with power, wealth and fame, other than prayer, fasting and acts of charity,” David said.

“We also invoke the intercession of the Blessed Mother as we pray that the Lord move the consciences of the Russian people so that they themselves will be able to do the necessary steps in order to pressure their government to stop the war it has started,” he added.

Pope Francis earlier called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and expressed his "most profound pain" for the country's suffering, the Ukrainian Embassy to the Vatican said.

The Vatican confirmed the call and in his own tweet Zelenskiy said he thanked the pope "for praying for peace in Ukraine and a ceasefire. The Ukrainian people feel the spiritual support of His Holiness."

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Manila has issued a set of guidelines for those who will not be able to go to church on Ash Wednesday as self-imposition of ashes has been discouraged.

The CBCP announced that it would return to the religious tradition of placing ash on people's foreheads. However, the sprinkling of ash on the crown remains as an option.

The Catholic hierarchy in 2020 and 2021 modified the Ash Wednesday rites as part of efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

Instead of the imposition of ashes on foreheads, the ash was sprinkled on the crown of the faithful. — VBL, GMA News