In recent days, the new papal almoner, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has sent humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Ukraine, two war-torn countries. The prelate, who is charged with overseeing the Pope’s charitable work, said that “charity is the gospel lived.”
“The Dicastery for the Service of Charity serves as the Pope’s vehicle for aid. In recent days, we have sent to Ukraine a trailer containing medicines, food products, hygiene supplies and clothing. We have also sent 15,000 essential medicines to Lebanon,” the Spanish archbishop said in a message posted on Twitter.
The shipment to Ukraine took place on April 25, the same day as the Pope’s almoner’s visit, and departed from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Basilica of Santa Sophia in Rome, Vatican News reported.
“That shipment marks the 150th truck departing from our basilica,” explained the church’s rector, Father Marco Semhen, who highlighted the collaboration of the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Pharmaceutical Bank Foundation.
The shipment includes several pallets of medicines, mainly antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, intended both for hospitals and for distribution among the local population through the Ukrainian volunteer network.
Semehene stressed that the aid was collected with particular consideration for the most vulnerable. “We have collected everything that could be useful, especially taking into account the needs of the most delicate – the sick and children,” he explained, “For them, donations mainly included medicines, family care packages, hygiene supplies, thermal blankets, food and a lot of clothes of excellent quality.”
The Rector also highlighted the continuity of the Pope’s assistance to the Ukrainian people over time.
“For Ukraine, this continuity of aid coming from the Vatican means a lot,” he confirmed, while adding that “with the prolongation of the war, we have seen a decline in attention to the needs of the population.”
‘The Church is not merely doctrine or principle’
“The Church is not just theory or doctrine; it is also practice: it is the gospel lived out, the testimony of charity,” he said, adding that seeing such generous participation “is a source of great joy.” In this regard, he stressed that “charity is the appropriate response of Christians in the face of hatred in the world.”
The Pope’s almoner also issued an appeal for peace: “The cry ‘Peace, peace, peace!’ It should enter everyone’s hearts and minds. We still have a long way to go and we need true transformation.”
Lebanon also received help from the Pope. As reported by Vatican media this week, the Office of Papal Charities organized a humanitarian aid shipment to the country, sending 15,000 essential medicines, which will be distributed through the Apostolic Nunciature in Beirut.
Medications include antibiotics, diabetes and blood pressure medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, multivitamin supplements, and other medications for the most common acute and chronic conditions.
Marin highlighted the importance of cooperation in responding effectively to humanitarian emergencies. “Our department is also engaged in charitable work internationally, operating through monasteries and local churches,” he explained, stressing the need to build networks and raise awareness in order to highlight “the terrible reality of war, the needs it creates, and how we can collaborate in concrete ways to help those who suffer.”
this story was first published By ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language affiliate of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
