Skip to content

Vatican holds thermal shirt drive for Ukraine

The Vatican’s charity office is holding a drive to collect thermal shirts for people in Ukraine as they face an energy emergency amid the war.

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope’s almoner, said Dec. 5 that the charity office of the Vatican is “already stocking up” on thermal shirts for men, women, and children.

Others are encouraged to join the initiative by bringing or shipping shirts to the Dicastery for the Service of Charity by the beginning of January, when the shipment of shirts will be brought to Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, by truck.

“The Ukrainian people are experiencing an emergency related not only to the war but also to the lack of electricity, gas, and the very cold winter weather,” Krajewski said.

“We can help them this Christmas,” he added, “with the gift of thermal shirts, suitable for maintaining body temperature, for men, women, or children.”

Systematic bombing by Russia has damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and the country’s government has warned that the networks will not withstand winter’s increased demands.

Papal envoy Cardinal Konrad Krajewski prays at a mass grave in Ukraine on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. Vatican Media.
Papal envoy Cardinal Konrad Krajewski prays at a mass grave in Ukraine on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. Vatican Media.

People in Ukraine are facing freezing weather without electricity, heat, or water, as January, the country’s coldest month of the year, approaches.

Temperatures in Kyiv are already below freezing, with a mixture of rain and snow in the near forecast.

Thermal shirts help retain heat and maintain body temperature in cold weather and are usually worn as a base layer under other clothing.

Cardinal Krajewski has traveled to Ukraine by truck several times since Russia’s invasion in February, bringing food and supplies to be distributed to those in need.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

PHOTOS: Pope Francis Washes the Feet of Inmates at Women’s Prison in Rome

Pope Francis on Thursday washed the feet of 12 prisoners at a prison facility in Rome, with the pontiff continuing a regular tradition of holding the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at local penitentiaries.

Jubilee of Seminarians, Bishops, and Priests gets underway in Rome

More than 6,000 seminarians, bishops, and priests from five continents are in Rome this week to celebrate their jubilee as part of the Holy Year 2025.

Pope Francis: Be surprised by God’s mercy this Advent

The season of Advent is a time to let ourselves be surprised by God’s mercy and compassion, Pope

Cardinal Fernández: Human Dignity Document to Be Published in Early April

The prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said a ‘new text’ had been recently prepared having already had ‘several versions.’

Jonathan Roumie meets the pope: ‘There was just a kindness on his face’

When Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in “The Chosen,” heard the news of the election of an American-born pope, he said he wept “because I just never thought I would ever live to see the day.”

How a Pope is Chosen: Inside the Secretive and Ancient Ritual of the Conclave

Discover the secretive yet highly structured process of a papal conclave, from ancient rituals to modern rules, as the cardinals gather to elect the next pope under centuries-old traditions.

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTN.it