Archbishop Timothy Broglio met in Kyiv with the Head of the UGCC and leaders of military chaplaincy
On Thursday, December 29, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the leader of the Military Services USA and the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as part of a visit of solidarity and support, visited Kyiv, where he was met by the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav. In the premises of the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC, Archbishop Broglio also held a meeting with the heads of the military chaplaincy services in Ukraine’s military forces and military chaplains of various Churches
Archbishop Timothy Broglio’s visit to Kyiv began with a visit to the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, where he appended his signature to the Holy Gospel.
Welcoming Archbishop Timothy Broglio in the capital of Ukraine, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted the symbolism of his visit to Kyiv on the very day of the massive missile fire by Russia. “This is truly a heroic journey. During the massive attack on Ukraine, when many people were leaving the country, the chief chaplain of the American Army came to us, to Kyiv. The United States of America is an essential partner for us, both militarily and spiritually. Today, among the Catholic bishops of America, we have meaningful partners who help us in various ways, including humanitarian aid, and are Ukraine’s advocates before the world.”
Therefore, Archbishop Timothy Broglio addressed the leaders of chaplain services in the military forces of Ukraine and military chaplains.
“US military chaplaincy remains the oldest part at the heart of America’s Armed Forces. As soon as George Washington took command of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, the next day, he petitioned Congress to qualify him to employ military chaplains. He wanted this for two reasons. The first is, of course, the religious guardianship of his military, and the second is that they were supposed to be an adviser to the commander. He wanted someone by his side who could tell him the truth,” told the military bishop.
According to him, it remains the purpose of military chaplaincy in the United States in the future.
At the end of the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked Archbishop Timothy Broglio for his visit to Ukraine and noted that he came at a tough, dramatic, but at the same time heroic time. “We are proud of our army. It is an army of heroes,” said the Head of the UGCC and recalled that on December 28, Bishop Timothy took part in the funeral of three defenders of Ukraine in the Garrison Church in Lviv.
The Head of the UGCC asked Archbishop Broglio to tell about what he saw after returning to the USA. “Your visit is a gesture of great solidarity and support for us. When you return to your commanders, to the United States of America, tell them about what you saw in Ukraine, especially today, the day of another massive attack.”
The meeting ended with a joint prayer led by Archbishop Broglio, in which he asked God for peace for Ukraine and comfort for the families of the fallen soldiers, as well as a blessing for the military chaplaincy in Ukraine, which is at the formation stage.
The UGCC Department for Information
