(ANS – Turin) – Fr. Luca Barone traveled to Ukraine in his capacity as president of Missioni Don Bosco, the Salesian Mission Office based at Valdocco, Turin. He brought his Salesian confreres a message of fraternal solidarity, as Italy continues to send aid—within the limits imposed by the ongoing war—to meet both material and spiritual needs. “The aim is to reach out to our brothers and sisters who are suffering and struggling to lead dignified, peaceful daily lives,” Fr. Barone explained before departure. “It is a commitment to bringing a message of hope to the streets of the world.”

The current war situation is well known; unfortunately, it has seen an intensification of missile attacks—possibly linked to positioning ahead of a potential ceasefire, as suggested by recent diplomatic developments—that are striking far beyond conventional front lines. In this context, Fr. Barone also highlighted the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, scheduled to take place in Gdańsk (Danzig), Poland, from June 25–26, 2026.

His journey, undertaken alongside Missioni Don Bosco journalist Ester Negro, aims above all to witness firsthand “the seeds of hope sprouting in a land soaked in the blood of too many young lives lost or cut short in the hope of a better future.”

The itinerary includes Lviv and Vynnyky, followed by Kyiv and Zhytomyr—cities where support from Fr. Barone’s organization has been focused. Numerous projects have been carried out, supported by Italian benefactors since the re-establishment of the Salesian presence in Ukraine in 2004.

Since 2021, as tensions escalated toward open conflict, ongoing exchanges have continued between the Greek-Catholic Salesian community and the Valdocco Mother House, taking many forms. Likewise, assistance to the Polish Catholic mission has supported initiatives for young people and families in Odessa and Zhytomyr.

“These days, I carry with me the aid, prayers, and solidarity of men and women who believe in Don Bosco’s educational vision, embodied in the lives of Salesians, volunteers, and local workers. They were present in Ukraine before the war and have not taken a single step back during these years of conflict. I am certain they will still be there when this tragedy comes to an end.”

For further information, visit the website: www.missionidonbosco.org