Head of the UGCC in the 170th Week of the War: We Rejoice That Pope Leo’s Heart Beats in Unison with the Hearts of Ukrainians
The Holy Father expressed his deep spiritual unity with the Ukrainian people. “I am with you. I carry the pain of Ukraine in my heart,” he said to me. These were the words of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in the 170th week of the great war—a week marked by historic events and during which Ukraine remained in the global spotlight.
Pope Leo XIV tours St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City in his popemobile before the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, May 18, 2025 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Primate emphasized that the world watched closely the meeting in Istanbul between representatives of various nations.
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Video-message of the Head of the UGCC on the 170th Week of Full-Scale War, May 18, 2025
“We saw who truly wants peace and who evades it,” he said. “And yet, even as peace was being discussed at the highest levels, Ukraine continued to suffer. But our people, who thirst for peace, pray for it and build it in today’s world.”
According to the spiritual leader, this week—as so often before—the Eternal City became the center of church life. For three days—Monday through Wednesday—the Jubilee Pilgrimage of the Eastern Catholic Churches to Rome took place.
On Wednesday, a unique joint prayer of all Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Eastern tradition was held in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Jubilee concluded with the first general audience of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, held specifically for the faithful of the Eastern Catholic Churches. “We felt as if the Holy Father had embraced us and honored our traditions,” said the Primate.
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There was also another historic event. “The newly elected Roman Archbishop received me—unworthy as I am,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, “at one of the first private audiences of his pontificate. Perhaps it was outside protocol, sincediscussed how Ukrainians are awaiting the Pope’s visit to Ukraine, hoping it might help bring an end to the war.”
“We rejoice,” he added, “that Pope Leo’s heart beats in unison with the hearts of Ukrainians. He listened attentively as I spoke about the life of our Church in Ukraine today. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude that our Church stands with its people.”
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Pope Leo XIV Receives Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Audience
The Head of the Church also said he had the opportunity to present the Pope with a unique artwork—a painting by the father of a fallen defender of Ukraine, who expressed his grief in a piece entitled Prayer-Requiem. The Holy Father was moved—sometimes the language of art speaks more deeply than human words ever can.
The UGCC Department for Information
