“Croatia has unique experience in healing the wounds of war,” Head of the UGCC to Croatian Ambassador to Ukraine Anica Djamić
On August 20, at the Patriarchal Center in Kyiv, Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Croatia to Ukraine, Ms. Anica Djamić. During the conversation, they discussed the solidarity of the Croatian people with the Ukrainian people, the wounds of war, and the vision for Ukraine’s future restoration.
“I would like to thank you, Madam Ambassador, for your support of the Catholic Church in Ukraine. You are present at many events, especially those related to the promotion of family values. We deeply appreciate this,” the Head of the UGCC said to Ms. Djamić.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also thanked the Croatian people for their solidarity with Ukraine: “Today we feel that Croatia and the Catholic Church in Croatia are staunchly on the side of our country and our Church,” he emphasized.
In response, Ambassador Djamić stressed that her support for Ukraine and the Catholic Church came naturally: “When I came to Ukraine, I wanted people to know that there is another country in Europe where the Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches are active and where people go to church. The fact that I stayed in Ukraine from the beginning of the war was natural for me. I felt that this was the place where I belonged. For me, this term of office is a true gift from God.”
Special attention was given to the issue of healing the wounds of war. The Head of the UGCC emphasized that this experience unites Ukraine and Croatia. “Our Synod has declared pastoral care for healing the wounds of war to be one of its main priorities. We understand that war trauma affects not only soldiers, but everyone who has endured bombardment or danger. The future of Ukraine depends on whether we can overcome this trauma. Croatia has unique experience, and we want to learn from you,” the Patriarch stressed.
For her part, the Croatian Ambassador spoke about her country’s initiatives to help veterans and underlined the spiritual dimension of the rehabilitation process.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that the Church has a special role in the reconstruction of Ukraine: “Today, everyone is speaking of the restoration of Ukraine, but the Church speaks first and foremost of the restoration of the human person. If we do not heal the wounds of war and restore humanity, we will not be able to build a space for life in Ukraine.”
He recalled the meeting of Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops with representatives of the Italian government on July 9, 2025, in Rome. During the meeting, organized by the Italian government, they discussed cooperation in various areas of Ukraine’s rebuilding. Ministers of the relevant ministries confirmed Italy’s readiness to cooperate with the UGCC in the fields of culture, education, and medicine. According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, this example could be expanded to other countries, particularly Croatia.
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The Father and Head of the UGCC thanked Ambassador Djamić for her work and service and, on behalf of Ukrainians, expressed gratitude to the entire Croatian people: “Thank you to your country for its closeness to Ukraine and solidarity. Your experience of surviving war is a treasure for us, from which we will learn,” he emphasized.
At the end of the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented the Croatian Ambassador with a book of his daily wartime addresses and a commemorative medal issued by the Ukrainian State Mint to mark the 20th anniversary of the return of the seat of the Head of the UGCC to Kyiv and the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the Kyiv Metropolia.
