Pope John Paul II said Sunday he was praying for peace in Ukraine as the former Soviet republic endures a crisis over its disputed presidential vote.
During his weekly address from a window at St. Peter's Square, the pope told the crowd that his thoughts were with the Ukrainians present.
"I assure them of my prayers for peace in their country," the pontiff said, speaking clearly and appearing in form.
Ukrainians in the crowd waved orange banners — the campaign color of Viktor Yushchenko, the Western-leaning opposition candidate who claims he was cheated out of victory in the Nov. 21 run-off election.
The nation's election commission declared Russian-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych the winner in a vote the United States and other Western nations say was marred by massive fraud. On Saturday, Ukraine's parliament declared the vote invalid amid a flurry of international calls for a revote.
On Wednesday, the pope told Ukrainian pilgrims at his weekly audience that he offered special prayers for their country. John Paul visited Ukraine, a predominantly Orthodox country with a Catholic minority, in 2001.