Olena is a young soldier from Ukraine. Her husband is also a soldier at war. That’s about all we’ve been able to learn about her as she is not yet ready to share her story. However, sometimes actions speak louder than words.
OLENA, Ukrainian soldier
I gave one of my crutches to the Holy Father. This gesture is a symbol that, for now, I can walk with just one crutch. But I still hope that the physiotherapy I’m undergoing will help me.
This was the moment when she was able to greet Pope Leo XIV. Olena didn’t mind breaking protocol and asking the Pope for a hug. The hug wasn't just for her, but for the entirety of the Ukrainian people.
This doll is now also in the Pope’s hands. Olena wanted to give it to him, as it's not just a simple object. The story behind the doll goes much deeper.
OLENA, Ukrainian soldier
I also gave a doll to the Holy Father. These dolls are made by children in the bunkers of Kupiansk—children who can’t go outside to play. They have to stay in the bunker and make these dolls. It’s a symbol of our desire to be free. It represents free thought. And that’s why I want us to be free.
This is not the first time a Pope has received a doll like this. Pope Francis received a similar gift from a group of young Ukrainian women in February. It had fragments of a bomb embedded in it, one of which nearly pierced the doll’s heart.
BAM/CA
Trans. CRT
