Pope Francis has blessed an ambulance which is heading to Ukraine to assist people with life saving treatment.

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who heads the Office of Papal Charities, is taking the ambulance, which has been donated by the Pope, to the Western city of Lviv, which in recent days has suffered airstrikes by Russian forces.

The Cardinal will give the ambulance to the city authorities, who will put it into service in areas most needing aid. The ambulance marks a concrete sign of help for the city's population, whose numbers have increased greatly due to the arrival of many internally displaced people.

Before leaving, Cardinal Krajewski told Vatican Media that he had asked Our Lady of Fatima to protect Ukraine, suffering so much from the war, but also for the mission he is undertaking by returning to Ukraine on the request of Pope Francis.

The Cardinal said, "I will go with a heart full of hope." 

It's the second time in recent weeks that the Cardinal has travelled to Ukraine.