Cardinal Mykola Bychok Visits the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia welcomed Cardinal Mykola Bychok, the youngest cardinal in the Catholic Church and Bishop of Saints Peter and Paul Eparchy of Melbourne, serving Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania.
Cardinal Bychok presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, concelebrated by Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, head of the Archeparchy.
Introducing Cardinal Bychok, Archbishop Borys noted that he was the youngest of the cardinal electors in the recent papal conclave and the seventh cardinal of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
He also highlighted Cardinal Bychok’s earlier ministry: “As a priest, Father Mykola served in Siberia, and you can imagine how strangulating it was to try living a Ukrainian, Eastern Catholic life in the Russian Federation under the present Russian president. He served with great fruitfulness in Ukraine and was beloved by young people,” Archbishop Borys said. He added that serving as a bishop in Australia is also challenging: “In Australia today it is not easy to serve; legislators require priests to break the seal of confession. Being a bishop and a Christian there does not put one at risk of shedding blood, but the pressure is constant.”
September 14 marks the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In his homily, Cardinal Bychok reflected on how the cross shapes Christian life, describing it as “the ultimate paradox — Christ’s greatest humiliation through which He achieves His greatest glory. In His apparent defeat, He secures our eternal victory. The cross is the place where sin and death were defeated by the power of sacrificial love.”
He encouraged the faithful to embrace their own challenges and sufferings rather than avoid them: “The world tells us to run from our crosses, to avoid them at all costs, but Christ tells us to do the opposite — to embrace our crosses, to carry them with Him, and to find redemption in them. So we discover the true meaning of discipleship: it is in our weakness that His strength is made perfect; it is in our pain that we find a deeper connection with the One who suffered for us.”
Looking at the cross, he said, Christians should see more than an ancient instrument of execution: “Let us see the tree of life watered by the blood of Christ. Let us see the sign of God’s unending love outstretched to embrace all of humanity. Let us see the banner of our salvation lifted high for all the world to see. Let us ask ourselves: how do we exalt the cross in our own lives? Do we carry our burdens with patience and hope? Do we embrace the challenges of our faith even if they seem difficult or unpopular? Do we allow the cross of Christ to transform us, to make us more like Him?”
After the liturgy, Cardinal Bychok delivered a talk titled “Hope: The Conclave and a New Holy Father,” sharing personal reflections on his unexpected path to becoming a cardinal. “Just a year ago I could not have imagined that I would be in such a position. My dream was to be a monk, a priest, and to serve God and people. Five years ago, the Synod of Bishops chose me as a bishop, and it was not easy to accept. It was even harder when Pope Francis proclaimed me a cardinal. This was a great shock for me, from which my brother bishops, including Metropolitan Borys, helped me recover.”
He recalled learning of Pope Francis’ death while traveling: “At Easter we still had the opportunity to hear his word and blessing. And already the next day, when I was flying from Melbourne on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I learned that the Pope had died.”
Describing the conclave itself, Cardinal Bychok emphasized the centrality of prayer and the Holy Spirit: “For many people, the image of the conclave is shaped by the film of the same name. But in reality, everything is different. In the movie, the cardinals hardly pray, but in truth, prayer is at the center. We sincerely invoked the Holy Spirit. For me, it was one of the best moments of my life — two days without any means of communication, alone with myself and with the Lord. Try it. This gives new perspectives.”
He stressed that the election of the Pope is not political: “The conclave is not an election as we know it in secular life. It was clear that the hands of the cardinals were only instruments in the hands of God. The Lord, who founded the Church, knows well how to guide it. The Church of Christ cannot be destroyed. During the voting, the action of the Holy Spirit was evident — from the first ballot to the last.”
Cardinal Bychok also highlighted the solidarity of the cardinals regarding the war against Ukraine: “The day before the conclave we signed a joint letter calling for an end to wars in the world. Unfortunately, the media hardly paid attention to it. But I can testify: cardinals support Ukraine and clearly understand who is the victim of aggression and who is the occupier.”
Concluding his reflections, he highlighted the challenge facing the current Pope who was celebrating his 70th birthday: “Today 1.4 billion people identify themselves as Catholics. To be the leader of the Catholic Church is an enormous responsibility and a difficult task. But the power of the Holy Spirit continues to lead the Church forward.”
During the Q&A session, participants asked about the life of the Church in Australia, challenges faced by the Ukrainian community, the experience of war refugees, the possibility of a visit by Pope Leo to Ukraine, and the reality of evil in the world.
At a reception in the cathedral hall following the talk, Cardinal Bychok blessed parishioners individually and spoke with hundreds, sharing encouragement and prayers with all in attendance.
Afterwards, the Cardinal visited the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia, and its museum. St. John Neumann belonged to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, just like Cardinal Mykola Bychok.
On September 15, he will be a guest at the retreat for priests of the Philadelphia Archeparchy.
Communications Office of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia
