Prayer Service for peace in Ukraine
On 25 March 2022, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Holy Father Pope Francis asked the entire Catholic Church - bishops, priests and lay faithful - to join him in an act of consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Catholic communities in Kuwait also participated in this moment of prayer for peace.
Appearing on 13 July 1917 in Fatima, the Blessed Virgin asked that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart, so that it would not spread "its errors throughout the world, promoting wars, the destruction of many nations and the persecution of the Church".
Since the apparitions in Fatima, the Popes have celebrated various acts of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Pius XII consecrated the whole world on 31 October 1942, and on 7 July 1952 he specifically consecrated Russia to the Heart of the Virgin. Paul VI in 1964 and John Paul II in 1981, 1982 and 1984 renewed this consecration for the whole human race.
On 25 March 2022, confronted with the tragic aggression perpetrated by the Russian military forces against Ukraine, in violation of international norms and with enormous human cost, the Holy Father Pope Francis once again consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that the hearts of men may be converted and the war may soon end. At the same time, the Pope also entrusted and consecrated Ukraine and its people to Mary, so that the Blessed Virgin may be a source of protection and hope for them.
In Kuwait, the Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Archbishop Eugene M. Nugent, presided over a Prayer Service in the Holy Family Co-Cathedral in Kuwait City. The moment of prayer was attended by the Ambassador of Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Oleksandr Balanutsa, numerous other members of the diplomatic corps, the Representatives of the other Christian denominations, Priests, Religious and a large group of faithful.
TEXT OF THE ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY