The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis recently held an evening prayer service for peace in Ukraine and Russia at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. 

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and three other bishops in the Twin Cities invited everyone of goodwill to join them for an evening of prayer for peace in Ukraine and Russia March 6 at the Basilica.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis shared on Facebook that this ecumenical prayer service would serve as a "visible sign of our shared commitment to walk together in faith and solidarity with those who suffer." Chosen to lead the service, along with Archbishop Hebda, were Bishops Patricia Lull, Ann Svennugsen and Craig Loya.

Pope Francis has appealed to the Catholic community multiple times in the last few weeks to offer prayers and fasting for peace in Ukraine. "Today we enter the time of #Lent. Our prayer and fasting will be a plea for #peace in #Ukraine, bearing in mind that peace in the world always begins with our personal conversion, following Christ," he tweeted.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church delves into the moral considerations related to war. “The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy," the Catechism said.

There are approximately 17,000 Ukrainian Americans in Minnesota, according to WJON.