Ukraine’s Latin Rite Catholic bishops have asked Pope Francis to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In a letter to the pope, the Ukrainian bishops said that they were writing “in these hours of immeasurable pain and terrible ordeal for our people” in response to many requests for the consecration.

“Responding to this prayer, we humbly ask Your Holiness to publicly perform the act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Ukraine and Russia, as requested by the Blessed Virgin in Fatima,” said the letter, published on the bishops’ website on Ash Wednesday, March 2.

“May the Mother of God, Queen of Peace, accept our prayer: Regina pacis, ora pro nobis.”

Their request came as Russian forces moved to encircle the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where multiple blasts were reported early Wednesday morning, and troops laid siege to Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

More than 453,000 people have fled to Poland in the past six days, according to the Polish Border Guard agency. On March 1 alone, 98,000 people crossed the border into Poland.

The Ukrainian bishops have also posted on their website an updated Ukrainian text of an act of consecration of Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, asking that it be recited privately and after each Mass.

About 1% of the Ukrainian population are Latin Rite Catholics. They are concentrated in the west of the country, with six dioceses suffragan to the Archdiocese of Lviv of the Latins.

Read more at Catholic World Report