Mayor of Lviv Andrii Sadovyi met with the pontiff in the Vatican. As a present to pope Francis, the Ukrainian politician brought a piece of a Russian missile. A piece of iron was carved on top of 2 wooden crosses. They will be reminders of the struggle and pain of the Ukrainian people. These crosses know more about the pain than any other. According to Sadovyi, this piece of the missile was removed from the body of a 13-year-old girl who was injured in a Russian missile attack. The mayor prepared and worried before presenting such a gift to the pope.
"In the photo, a wooden cross is a symbol of the victory of good and truth, which is wounded by a fragment of a Russian missile. Wounded, but unbroken, like all Ukrainians," wrote the mayor in Telegram.
The pontiff accepted and blessed the crosses. One of them he will keep to himself to remember the price Ukrainians defend their faith and freedom. Another cross will travel the world and call people to pray for Ukraine.
Later, the pope met with Polish pilgrims. During the speech, he compared the war in Ukraine to the Holocaust. According to the pontiff, Russia is now repeating the path of nazi Germany, using in Ukraine something similar to plan Reinhard (extermination of Jews and Gypsies in the occupied territories).
"History repeats. Look what's happening in Ukraine now," said Pope Francis.
