Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok Meets with the Patriarch of Jerusalem
On Wednesday, April 23, Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, who is currently visiting the Holy Land, met with His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem for Latins.
His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem for Latins, is responsible for the pastoral care of Roman Catholics in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Cyprus.
The meeting took place in the Patriarchal house, where the cardinals first reflected on the figure of His Holiness Pope Francis and his tireless efforts for peace — particularly in Ukraine and the Holy Land. They also discussed upcoming events in the life of the Church, including the topic of the conclave, in which they will soon participate.
“Since my visit to Jerusalem was dedicated to prayer for peace in Ukraine, I asked the Patriarch to support our Ukrainian people with his prayers here, in this special place — the heart of Christianity,” shared Bishop Mykola.
At the conclusion of the meeting, diplomatic representatives and leaders from various Churches joined the gathering, and together they proceeded in a solemn procession to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.
At the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, a Requiem Mass was celebrated, presided over by Cardinal Pizzaballa, who prayed for the intentions of His Holiness. He was concelebrated by Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, who also prayed for peace in Ukraine. A large community of faithful gathered for the Mass — bishops, clergy, monastics, and laity — gathered in faith, hope, and gratitude to the Lord for the gift of Pope Francis and for his paternal service to the Universal Church.
The final part of the event was a rite of condolence held in the Patriarchal house, during which members of the diplomatic corps, monastic communities, and representatives of other Churches — including Orthodox Patriarchates — expressed their condolences and commemorated the person of Pope Francis.
Press office of the Melbourne Eparchy
