A flower held in hand, in memory of a child whose fate remains unknown or who is no longer alive. There is a poignant beauty in this delicate gesture by many Ukrainian mothers, who—visibly moved—welcomed the Papal Almoner, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, on his final day in the Eastern European nation, October 30th. With great dignity, they revealed an agonizing grief—a pain they strive to soothe together.

The meeting took place in Fastiv, about an hour from Kyiv—the second stop of a day that had begun in the capital following a night of missile and drone attacks, marked by the persistent wail of sirens, flashes of light, and the thunderous roar of explosions.

The day began with the celebration of Mass at the Apostolic Nunciature, followed by a visit to the home of the Missionaries of Charity—the sisters of Mother Teresa—located on the outskirts of Kyiv. Reaching the site meant traveling through neighborhoods where apartment buildings lay gutted by blasts, surrounded by piles of rubble.

Amidst this devastation, the sisters provide shelter to about fifty guests—the poorest of the poor: displaced persons, individuals with disabilities, and the sick, some of whom are bedridden.

The commitment of Mother Teresa’s sisters

The Papal Almoner—accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, and the Undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Massimo Ralli—prayed the Lord’s Prayer in Ukrainian together with those present, who shared their own difficult stories.

In the spaces set aside for receiving guests, there are several beds, as well as chairs for placing the belongings people managed to bring with them when they fled their homes. The person in charge of the facility also showed the areas where food—provided daily by Providence through many benefactors—is collected. There is even a small garden where, on milder days, the guests eat lunch and pray together.

In this house, no one is considered "discarded"; rather, every individual is someone to be protected, with full respect for their personal dignity. The Pope’s support has reached this place, and the most urgent needs have been identified to ensure continued assistance for the sisters’ facility in the future.

The work of the Vincentians

War-displaced persons have found an open door, modest employment, and training opportunities at DePaul Ukraine, an initiative of the Vincentians.

Here, those who have lost everything are truly given the chance to start over—even having a space of one’s own serves as a sign of a new beginning. The stories gathered are harrowing, much like the arduous path each guest must navigate. It is an endeavor sustained by the dedication of many volunteers and the support of the Holy See.

Photographs of children on mobile phones

After leaving Kyiv and traveling for an hour, the group arrived in Fastiv, home to the Saint Martin de Porres Humanitarian Center, run by the Dominican Fathers.

Welcomed by the director, Father Mykhailo Romaniv, the delegation toured the facility, which provides support to mothers whose sons have fallen or gone missing at the front.

It was a poignant moment, marked by prayers for their sons and for all victims of the war. One by one, the women shared their stories with Archbishop Marín de San Martín, showing him photographs of their children on their mobile phones. At this center, many mothers find the strength to carry on, guided by volunteers and psychologists during the most difficult period of their lives.

Father Mykhailo also showcased the center’s other activities, including the distribution of food, clothing, and medicine—reaching even the front lines—thanks to numerous priests and volunteers who traverse the country daily, as well as the generosity of many donors.

The center also houses a soup kitchen, supported in recent years by the Office of Papal Charities, where many people in need can find a hot meal.

Concrete signs of charity

Over the course of three days, the group traveled approximately 2,800 kilometers and visited 12 institutions within the Latin and Greek-Catholic Churches—places where charity manifests as a living presence. There were many meetings with priests and volunteers, followed by embraces with displaced people, unaccompanied children, individuals with disabilities, and the sick.

In every place, the Pope’s support was conveyed through concrete acts of charity, which will enable the continuation of numerous projects. This mission—which has just concluded—demonstrated that while war may destroy, the living Word of the Gospel continues to sprout through the actions of those who love and serve.