To All my Secular Franciscan Brothers and Sisters in every National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order:
To some of us Ukraine is very close, while for others it is a great distance. But we should not think that this may happen only there and cannot happen with us. When we pray for peace in Ukraine, we have to remember that it could happen to us, too. It cannot be taken for granted that we live in peace, just have a look at the history. Peace is not something natural.
I invite you, dear brothers and sisters, to strengthen our unity with each other, with the whole Franciscan Family and with the Catholic Church by joining the prayer of pope Francis for peace on Ash Wednesday. We can be sure that our prayers will not be unheard.
Tibor Kauser
CIOFS General minister