Bishop Hryhoriy Komar Appointed to Lead Apostolic Exarchate in Italy
Today, March 7, 2025, the Vatican announced that His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Paulo Dionisio Lachovicz, Exarch of the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy. The Pope has appointed Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, former Auxiliary Bishop of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy, as the Apostolic Administrator sede vacante ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Exarchate.
This was reported by the press service of the Holy See.
Biographical Note
Bishop Hryhoriy Komar was born on June 19, 1976, in the village of Letnya, Lviv region. In 2000, he graduated from the Lviv Theological Seminary of the Holy Spirit and later obtained a licentiate in Oriental Theology from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.
He was ordained a priest on April 22, 2001, by Bishop Julian Voronovsky and served in the parishes of Stebnyk and Drohobych. He also held positions as vice-rector and economist of the Drohobych Theological Seminary, censor of the eparchy, advisor to the UGCC Patriarchal Curia’s Theological Department, and protosyncellus of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy.
On June 25, 2014, Pope Francis approved his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy. He was consecrated on August 22, 2014, by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, with Metropolitan Ihor Vozniak of Lviv and Bishop Yaroslav Pryriz of Sambir-Drohobych as co-consecrators.
In July 2022, the Head of the UGCC appointed him Chairman of the Patriarchal Liturgical Commission. He speaks several foreign languages, including Italian, English, and Polish.
Apostolic Exarchate
Pope Francis announced the establishment of the Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainian Catholics of the Byzantine rite in Italy on July 11, 2019. Following its creation, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis was appointed Apostolic Administrator to oversee the vacant seat. In October 2020, the Pope named Bishop Paulo Dionisio Lachovicz as Apostolic Exarch. Having reached the age of 75, Bishop Dionisio submitted his resignation, which the Holy Father has now accepted.
The Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainians covers the entire territory of Italy, united in 173 communities, is administered by 82 priests. The cathedral and administrative center of the Exarchate is the parish church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Rome.
The mass presence of Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Italy dates back to the late 20th century. Pastoral care was initially provided by the Migrantes Service of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, which appointed a national coordinator, while priests in the communities were assigned by local diocesan bishops. Communication with the Mother Church was maintained through an Apostolic Visitor.
The UGCC Department for Information
