Cardinal Dolan discusses how Catholic Church is helping Ukrainian refugees
NEW YORK -- Christian leaders gathered with Cardinal Timothy Dolan at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown Thursday to discuss how the Catholic Church is responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The church says efforts are underway to assist refugees and those displaced by the Russian invasion.
"This requires the entire world's solidarity," said Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainian Catholics Borys Gudziak.
Gudziak was born in New York, but as the son of Ukrainian immigrants, he says his heart is heavy witnessing the horrific images coming out of his parents' homeland.
"Three point five million refugees in a month. Seven million internally displaced residents," Gudziak said. "They cannot survive without aid. By end of this weekend, 25 million helpless."
Dolan says he called the gathering of religious leaders to keep the focus on hope, and ramp up efforts to assist refugees and those displaced by the Russian invasion.
The Catholic Church estimates all of the dioceses combined have contributed more than $50 million in aid.
"There's a real unity in relief, getting the people of Ukraine the supplies and relief they need," Dolan said.
"We continue with partners on the ground to try to bring financial help where we can in Ukraine," said Monsignor Peter Vaccari, president of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. "We are working in neighboring countries. Hungary, Slovakia."
Religious leaders spoke in front of a new display - a Ukrainian cross and flag - placed inside St. Patrick's Cathedral which has traveled around the world for two decades, and serves as a source of hope.
Friday, Pope Francis will lead a global prayer for peace in Ukraine.
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