Head of the UGCC Thanks the Apostolic Capital for Call to Exchange Prisoners and Support of Ukraine’s Sovereignty
The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, expressed special gratitude to the Holy Father Francis for calling for the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine “all for all”, as well as to the heads of the diplomatic structures of the Holy See for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. His Beatitude Sviatoslav made this statement in a video message on the 111th week of the full-scale war.
On March 31, in his Easter message “Urbi et Orbi,” His Holiness Francis, referring to the wars in Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine, pointed out the need to respect the principles of international law and called for “a general exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for all.”
“The words of the Easter greeting of the Holy Father Francis evoked a special response in the Ukrainian heart. […] I express my special gratitude to the Pope on behalf of the families of our prisoners of war for the call for the Easter exchange of ‘all for all,’ the Head of the UGCC emphasized. ‘We hope that the powerful of this world will hear your words, and Ukrainian and Russian families will wait for their dearest ones to come home.’
Moreover, in his address, the Head of the UGCC thanked the heads of the diplomatic services of the Apostolic See, in particular Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, for once again supporting the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
“We thank the Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin for his statement that the aggressor Russia must be the first to stop attacking, assaulting, killing Ukrainians so that negotiations on a peaceful and diplomatic settlement of this war can be initiated,” said the Primate and added: “We recognize that when Russia stops attacking us, there will be no war, and when Ukraine stops defending itself, there will be no Ukrainian people and its state.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked Archbishop Gallagher for his latest words in an interview with America Magazine that the borders of states cannot be changed by force and that the borders of Ukraine are an inviolable part of the foundations of international law.
“The Apostolic Capital respects the sovereignty, independence and inviolability of Ukraine’s borders. These words spoken to the heart of the international community are vital for Ukrainians,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The UGCC Department for Information
