His Beatitude Sviatoslav Meets with Pope Francis in Vatican
On October 10, His Beatitude Sviatoslav met with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The Head of the UGCC described to Pope Francis the challenges of pastoral ministry during wartime, emphasizing humanitarian concerns and the need for continued comprehensive support for Ukraine from the Holy See.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented to Pope Francis the decisions of the last Synod of the UGCC, whose primary task is evangelization in the context of war. “Today we have an essential task — to resist the militarization of religion, which we witness in the Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as to open the word of God to people amidst severe hardships, to be preachers of hope even in the desperate conditions of war,” said the Head of the UGCC.
The Head of the UGCC thanked Pope Francis for his consistent assistance and mediation in freeing prisoners, especially Redemptorist priests Ivan Geleta and Bohdan Levytsky. He informed the Holy Father about their horrific experience of captivity in Russian torture chambers and their service to the Church after their liberation.
He focused special attention on humanitarian concerns, particularly with winter approaching. “Russia systematically destroys the civilian infrastructure of our cities and villages, striking at residential areas. Today, everyone is aware of the fact that denazification means the destruction of the Ukrainian people, Ukraine without Ukrainians,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. He thanked the Pope for consistently condemning missile attacks on civilian targets and asked him to continue to draw the attention of the international community to Russia’s crimes against the Ukrainian people.
The Holy Father promised the Head of the UGCC that he would continue to support Ukraine and engage all diplomatic channels of the Holy See to end the war in Ukraine. The Pope pointed out the need to mobilize all efforts to help Ukraine on the verge of winter and assured that he “will not let the world forget about Ukraine.”
Pope Francis expressed gratitude to the Head of the UGCC for serving the Ukrainian people “during such a difficult period in history—for being with your people as a true shepherd.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav is currently in Rome to participate in the Pontifical Synod on synodality. The program of his working visit to the Vatican and Italy envisages meetings with the heads of various dicasteries of the Roman Curia and representatives of the Italian government.
Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome,
photo: Vatican Media
