“It Is Important to Us That Andorra Stands with Ukraine,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav Says During Meeting with the Archbishop and Co-Prince of Andorra
On May 19, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain, with Bishop Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat, Archbishop of Urgell and Co-Prince of Andorra.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav was accompanied at the meeting by Bishop Stepan Sus, head of the Pastoral and Migration Department of the UGCC, as well as Fr. Oleh Oleksa, personal secretary to the Head of the Church.
“We had a meeting with Archbishop Urgell, who also serves as Co-Prince of the Principality of Andorra. As a sovereign state and member of the international community, Andorra’s support for Ukraine at the UN and the Council of Europe is very important to us,” noted His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church expressed gratitude to Archbishop Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat for his unwavering support for Ukraine, his solidarity with the Ukrainian people during the war, and his pastoral care for Ukrainians living in the Diocese of Urgell, which covers part of Spain, Andorra, and Andorra.
According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, a significant percentage of Ukrainians living in Catalonia reside within this diocese, where Ukrainian priests also serve. The Head of the UGCC expressed special gratitude for the openness of local priests to Ukrainian communities.
“First of all, I thanked the bishop for his pastoral care and hospitality toward Ukrainians, because they provide churches in their parishes for our people, our communities,” he said.
The meeting also addressed the issue of supporting Ukrainian children affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine. In particular, a summer camp for children from Ukraine is being organized this year in Andorra and within the diocese.
“Our priests are already preparing to welcome these children and ensure they have a peaceful vacation,” the archbishop said.
The meeting was held during a formation gathering of the clergy of the Diocese of Urgell, attended by nearly 50 priests. This provided an opportunity for the Head of the UGCC not only to speak with Archbishop Urgell, but also to share with the clergy of the local Church about the life of the Ukrainian people and the war that the Church’s ministry supports.
During the conversation, His Beatitude Sviatoslav also presented the distinctive features of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as an Eastern Catholic Church and spoke about the current state of our Church in Spain.
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At the conclusion of the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav invited Archbishop Urgell to visit Ukraine. Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat accepted the invitation and assured him that he would try to find an opportunity to make such a visit.
The UGCC Department for Information
