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When Pope Francis speaks of a world tragedy - whether it be war, forced migration, hunger, euthanasia, abortion - he often recalls that these situations aren't about "numbers." Instead, they are about persons, individuals, with their individual dreams and fears and hopes.
On March 30, at the end of the general audience, this message hit home as the Pope greeted one by one a group of Ukrainian refugee children hosted in Italy by three different groups.
As the children shook the Pope's hands -- some of them clearly older siblings holding their little brothers or sisters -- the crowd watched in silence. The Pope congratulated one little boy who presented him with drawings of the flag of Ukraine and a dove of peace.
At the end, they gathered around the Holy Father for a picture, as the crowd applauded.
The Pope has begged repeatedly for an end to the war - in Ukraine, and in other areas of conflict.
![Ukrainian crisis: The Vatican’s steps to seek peace [Chronology]](https://preprod.aleteia.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/02/Pope-Francis-Audience-Ukraine-Ukrainian-Antoine-Mekary-ALETEIA-AM_6185.jpg?resize=300,150&q=75)
