The letter coincides with the Day of Prayer and Material Assistance to the Church in the East, which is observed by Polish Catholics on December 4, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Ukraine’s Roman Catholic bishops, assembled at a plenary meeting in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on November 25, wrote to the Polish Bishops’ Conference (KEP): “When war leaves death, suffering and ruins in its wake, the Church community in Ukraine is not alone, because Poland is with us.”
'Please remain close to us'
They added: “You’ve been by our side since February 24, when the war began. It’s difficult to express the help we have received in figures, but it has been big, just like the hearts of the Polish people. Please remain close to us.”
Ukraine’s bishops thanked Polish Catholics for their prayers "and for the financial assistance you will provide on the second Sunday of Advent," December 4.
Ukraine’s top Roman Catholic churchmen said their gratitude would be expressed most effectively through prayers.
“May God, the Father of Mercy bless you and may the Holy Virgin Mary, our shared Queen and Mother, protect you,” Ukraine’s bishops concluded.
Poland has taken in a total of 8.12 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard agency reported on Friday.
Friday is day 282 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, episkopat.pl