ROME--  The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk will lead a prayer for Ukraine organised by the Sant’Egidio Community tonight.

In light of the recent escalation of violence in his country, the Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč, His Beatitude Shevchuk, in an interview with the Vatican Radio, has stressed the importance of the Church’s invovlement in providing assistance to those affected. Grateful to Pope Francis for his repeated appeals for cease-fire, the Archbishop spoke of a “healing process” which has begun in Ukraine, and the support, both medical and spiritual, offered by Church communities, is now most urgently needed.

Tonight’s prayer will take place in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere at 8.30pm.