A Vatican charity mission has brought humanitarian support to communities in Ukraine, where religious organisations and volunteers are helping families, children and displaced people endure the effects of war.
Bread and practical aid in Zaporizhzhia
According to Vatican News on 30 October, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, Prefect of the Dicastery for Charity, visited Zaporizhzhia and Poltava on a mission associated with Pope Leo XIV’s charitable assistance.
In Zaporizhzhia, the delegation joined the Albertine Fathers, who distribute bread weekly to approximately 10,000 people. Around 2,000 people were waiting for food during the visit, including children who had come alone.
Schools sheltering underground
The visitors also met staff at a humanitarian centre associated with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, where nursery and primary school children continue learning in underground spaces protected from attacks.
At Poltava, the delegation heard about the needs of families displaced from heavily affected areas, including medicine, winter clothing, generators and essential supplies. The mission underscores the continuing role of Catholic and other Christian communities in humanitarian relief.
