For the Pope in Ukraine
Shots fired during Cardinal’s visit to Zaporizhia
09/17/2022, 10:22 p.m
September 17 is a special day for Cardinal Konrad Krajewski. On that date, the Pole will be ordained bishop in 2013. Nine years later he is in Ukraine on behalf of Pope Francis – and witnesses shots being fired.
An incident occurred in Ukraine during a visit by the Curia cardinal and Vatican envoy Konrad Krajewski. The Pole sent by Pope Francis to the war zone is distributing relief supplies in Zaporizhia in the south of the country when shots are suddenly fired, according to the Vatican news portal “Vatican News”.
The group around Krajewski, who as almsmaster is responsible for the charitable concerns of the Vatican, had to take cover. “For the first time in my life I didn’t know where to flee to,” explains Krajewski. The group was unharmed and Krajewski, who had been sent to Ukraine for the fourth time since the outbreak of war, was able to continue his mission. Other backgrounds, such as the origin of the gunfire, are not yet known.
“It’s no use running away if you don’t know where to go,” Krajewski told Vatican News after the incident.
In a minibus through the war zone
According to the paper, on his current trip Krajewski wants to visit not only Odessa and Zaporizhia but also Kharkiv, where Ukraine is currently making significant gains in territory. His mission, the report says, is to show the pope’s closeness. At the same time, he has relief supplies, food and rosaries in his luggage for the people on site.
In order to distribute these, he is on the road with a team. According to the report, Krajewski will be accompanied by two bishops, one Catholic and one Protestant. In addition, he will be escorted by soldiers. Krajewski’s vehicle is a fully loaded minibus.
September 17, when the incident took place, is in any case a day of great importance for Krajewski. The cardinal told Vatican News that it was “a special day”. The Holy Father had appointed him almoner nine years earlier and he had also been ordained bishop. Krajewski received the consecration on September 17, 2013 at a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, in the presence of Pope Francis.