Head of the UGCC in Bologna “Know that Ukraine fights and will win because we pray together”: Head of the UGCC in Bologna
On November 1, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Bologna (Italy), the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, celebrated the Divine Liturgy for a just peace in Ukraine. The Primate arrived in Bologna at the invitation of the local Archbishop Matteo Zuppi, who is also the President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and a special envoy of Pope Francis to find ways to peace in Ukraine. Except for the cardinal, the UGCC head was concelebrated by Bishop Dionysius Liakhovych and priests of the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy.
“Today, I am especially delighted to greet Ukrainians in Bologna — those who miss Ukraine deeply, pray for it fervently, endure significant hardships on its behalf, and dedicate themselves to its cause in their daily prayers and work. Ukraine is fighting and will win because we are praying together. We derive our strength not from human power but from God’s power, manifested through the unity of Christ’s Church,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized, addressing the Ukrainians who gathered in large numbers for prayer in the main church of Bologna.
The Roman Catholic Church celebrated the feast of All Saints on this day. According to the Gregorian calendar, which the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Italy adheres to, the Gospel of Luke 11:9–13 was read. In his sermon, the Head of the Church reflected on the words of Christ: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
“It is so important not to get tired of knocking, even when it’s hard, even when it seems like we are giving up, that we are weary of fighting for our freedom,” he added, addressing the faithful.
Today, as Pope Francis has said, humanity is going through a dark hour. But, as the Ukrainian proverb says, rather than complaining about the darkness, it is better to light at least one candle, and in doing so, the darkness will dissipate.
“Your Eminence,” the Head of the UGCC addressed Cardinal Zuppi, “in these difficult, grievous, dark moments, you have lit many candles: you have visited Kyiv and Moscow, Washington and Beijing, and we are unaware of what other places you intend to visit. With this special mission entrusted to you by the Holy Father, you are lighting candles of hope for peace in Ukraine, giving hope to two hundred thousand Ukrainian children abducted by the Russians, to civilian prisoners who today are not certain whether they will have a future of their own tomorrow. Let us light the candles of peace together, even when darkness reigns around us, for this light of hope is not only a sheer feeling but a light that comes to us from Heaven! And today’s feast of All Saints, the feast of the communion of the Church, is our hope.”
The Primate expressed gratitude to the Italian people, particularly the Italians present at the prayer, and the long-standing Archdiocese of Bologna for their solidarity with Ukraine.
After the Liturgy, Archbishop Matteo Zuppi thanked His Beatitude Sviatoslav for his arrival in Bologna today and the daily presence of the Ukrainian community, which “enables us to breathe with two lungs.”
“The Church that you lead,” Cardinal Zuppi addressed His Beatitude Sviatoslav, “is going through a horrible, unjust war today. But we know the strength of your Church. We admired it during Soviet persecution — its allegiance to the Roman Church, its perseverance in the underground, its martyrs and confessors of the faith.”
“Your pain is our pain. Your tears are our tears. And we pray that soon we can sing with you the joy of peace, which will be our peace. Peace, peace, and peace for Ukraine, and now, we extend our prayers for the Middle East!” said the head of the Italian bishops.
Cardinal Zuppi highlighted the Catholic Church’s dedication to safeguarding the most vulnerable, specifically children. He referred to the mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis, noting that it is already “bearing fruit.” He encouraged us to consider planning visits to Italy for Ukrainian children affected by the war in the future. The archbishop also expressed hope that acts of solidarity, especially for children, will continue to grow.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his gratitude to Bishop Dionysius Lyakhovych, the first exarch of the Apostolic Exarchate in Italy, and Fr. Mykhailo Boyko, priest of the UGCC in Bologna, for their zealous pastoral service to the faithful of the UGCC in Italy.
The UGCC Department for Information
