SW News: Amid the Russia- Ukraine war, Pope Francis has announced his decision to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25. On his official Twitter account, the Holy Father said that the consecration will take place at St Peter’s Basilica.

According to a statement from the Holy See press office, “The same act, on the same day, will be carried out in Fatima by His Eminence Cardinal Krajewski, Apostolic Almoner, as envoy of the Holy Father.”

In a letter published on Ash Wednesday, the Latin Rite Catholic bishops in Ukraine had requested the Pope to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  “..we humbly ask Your Holiness to publicly perform the act of consecration to the Sacred Immaculate Heart of Mary of Ukraine and Russia, as requested by the Blessed Virgin in Fatima,” they said in the statement.

On Sunday, during the Angelus, Pope Francis had called for negotiations to bring an end to the war. “God is only the God of peace, he is not the God of war, and those who support violence profane his name,” the Holy Father explained.