Lenten campaign 2026
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As reported by Vatican News, the Holy Father has arranged for the delivery of 80 electricity generators, along with medicine and food supplies, to communities facing below-freezing temperatures and renewed attacks on energy infrastructure.
During the general audience on February 4 in Paul VI Hall, the Pope renewed his appeal for Ukraine, pointing to “the consequences of the bombings which have once again begun to strike energy infrastructure.” His words quickly became action.
At his request, the Dicastery for the Service of Charity dispatched three lorries carrying generators from Rome to Ukraine. The trucks departed from the Basilica of Saint Sophia, the church of Ukrainians in Italy, and have already reached Fastiv and Kyiv, areas heavily affected by recent strikes.
Freezing nights, fragile shelters
The need is urgent. Night-time temperatures are falling to minus 15 degrees Celsius (5°F), with daytime highs hovering between minus 10 and minus 12. Families whose homes no longer have reliable heating are seeking refuge in warmed shelters. There, thanks to the generators, they can at least find light, warmth, and a hot meal.
Military operations have continued in Odessa and Kharkiv. In one recent attack, a 10-year-old child was killed. War spares no one, and winter only intensifies the hardship.
Alongside the generators, thousands of medicines have been sent—antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, supplements, and melatonin. The latter has become especially sought after, helping exhausted civilians sleep amid sirens and uncertainty.
The Vatican’s ongoing aid to Ukraine
Previous aid has included:
-Ambulances and medical vehicles
-Portable ultrasound machines and hospital equipment
-Generators for winter emergencies
-Food parcels and hygiene kits
-Direct financial assistance to dioceses
Distribution is coordinated through local bishops and parish networks to ensure aid reaches frontline communities and displaced families. The current shipment of 80 generators and thousands of medicines marks one of the largest winter-focused energy interventions to date.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds the faithful that works of mercy include “giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick” (CCC 2447). In this case, electricity itself has become a work of mercy — a lifeline for hospitals, shelters, and parish centers.
The Dicastery, led by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, confirmed that another lorry is being prepared, carrying more antibiotics, antihypertensive medicines, and food supplies. Once inside Ukraine, distribution takes place through parish networks across the dioceses — an ecclesial web of solidarity that reaches into neighborhoods most in need.
This effort has been made possible with support from the Banco Farmaceutico network, the Procter & Gamble group, and numerous donors. Cardinal Krajewski, speaking on behalf of the Pope, expressed gratitude to “all people of goodwill” who continue to stand with those who suffer.
In a conflict now nearing its fourth anniversary (February 24), gestures like these do not end the war. But they offer something indispensable: human closeness. In the face of darkness and cold — both literal and spiritual — the Church is striving to keep the lights on.
