Vatican hosts screening of documentary "20 Days in Mariupol"
By Pope
"It takes courage to tell the truth, and courage is impossible without charity," said Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk, Ordinary of the Diocese of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, as he introduced the documentary.
The exclusive event for the diplomatic corps took place on Wednesday, 29 May 2024, in the Synod Hall in the Vatican, organized by the British and Ukrainian Embassies to the Holy See. The screening was attended by diplomats, representatives and collaborators from various departments of the Roman Curia.
The event began with a welcome speech from British Ambassador, Christopher Trott, who presented the film. He was followed by Ukrainian Ambassador, Andriy Yurash, who thanked the international community for its support for his country and then handed over to Bishop Pavlo, as the city of Mariupol is part of his diocese.
The film, which covers the first three weeks of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, is narrated in first person by war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov, who documents the early days of the siege of Mariupol and illustrates his experience. According to Chernov, who was present and addressed the audience after the screening, the horrors they witnessed are only part of what continues to happen, especially in his hometown, Kharkiv.
The spectators left the Synod Hall in deep silence. The initiative served as yet another reminder of the sufferings caused by the war, especially to civilians, with children and the elderly being the primary victims.
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