“I don’t believe that there can be a truth that would cause harm” — Head of the UGCC at a meeting with journalists from Ukrinform
On January 19, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met with the staff of the Ukrinform news agency in Kyiv. During the conversation, which took place in the agency’s conference room, focused on the role of journalists during the war, the evolving relationship with the Vatican, Russian propaganda, and artificial intelligence.
As reported by Ukrinform, His Beatitude Sviatoslav spoke about the special role of journalists during the war: “When it comes to the vocation of a journalist, someone who works with news, in the context of the social teaching of the Church, we say that we speak of a person who serves the truth. They do not serve the lobbying interests of a particular social group or politicians, but the objective truth. That is why those who fear the truth are so often afraid of you.”
During the meeting, special attention was devoted to the issue of responsibility for words in wartime. Journalists were interested in whether all news during military operations should be made public, to which the Head of the UGCC replied: “In moral theology, there is a concept known as ‘silence on sin’. This is very serious. I do not believe that there can be any truth that would cause harm. It can be painful. That is true. But it is always healing. I ask you to be very responsible with your words, because in wartime, words can kill, and words can save. But silence can be even more destructive.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also recalled the words of St. Augustine, who compared truth to a lion: “It does not need to be defended, it needs to be unleashed.”
During the conversation, they also discussed the evolution of relations with the Vatican and the Catholic world. According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Holy See is becoming increasingly aware of Ukraine’s importance for European security: “The Holy See, as part of the European context, understands that without Ukraine there will be no secure future in Europe.”
He also mentioned the recent meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after which the Pontiff emphasized that the war in Ukraine is a war in Europe and that Europe must be a party to the negotiations: “It is not possible to negotiate about Ukraine at the level of the US and Russia. We have not heard this for a long time. Thank God that the Pope now firmly stands on the side of the victims.”
Many topics were discussed during the meeting. More detailed information with the full text of the conversation will soon be published on the Ukrinform website.
Photo credit: Hennadiy Minchenko
