Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The bishops of Latvia have made an earnest appeal to the Catholics of Finland to join them in prayer for peace in Ukraine. They ask us to pray that this terrible war may finally come to an end and that peace may return to that beloved country. Let us pray at the same time for the safety of all Ukraine’s neighbouring countries and of Europe as a whole.
I wholeheartedly join in this appeal and pass it on to you, dear members of our diocese. I ask that on Saturday, 12 September, the Rosary be prayed in all Catholic parishes in Finland, entrusting our prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that Holy Mass be celebrated for peace in Ukraine and throughout the world.
I also invite families and households throughout Finland to join in this prayer. Each of us, through our own prayer, can bring the trials of the Ukrainian people before God and ask him for the gift of peace.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary ask her Son to change the hearts of those who sow hatred, violence and war. Let us pray that the war in Ukraine may soon come to an end and that peace may prevail there and throughout the world, wherever people suffer from war and violence.
Holy Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for Ukraine.
Holy Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for Europe.
Holy Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for the whole world.
Helsinki, 7 September 2026
+ Raimo Goyarrola
Bishop of Helsinki