The Photo Album “Pilgrims of Hope: The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Jubilee Pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica” Is Now Published
The photo album Pilgrims of Hope: The Jubilee Pilgrimage of the UGCC to St. Peter’s Basilica, commemorating the pilgrimage of the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on June 28, 2025, during the Jubilee Year of Hope, has been published.
The album was compiled and published by the Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome with the blessing and support of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, in collaboration with the Artos publishing house.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav personally presented the publication to the bishops of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC during the 103 rd session of the Synod, held on May 12–13.
Speaking about this pilgrimage, the Head of the Church noted: “This is a unique event in the history of our Church. No other Church or nation has had a similar pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year of 2025. Only Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have received this privilege—as a sign of the Pope’s respect and solidarity with the pain and suffering of Ukraine.”
This photo album was created as a tribute to one of the most significant events of the 2025 Jubilee Year for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Led by His Beatitude Sviatoslav and the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Church made a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle Peter, bringing together several thousand Ukrainians from various parts of the world in Rome.
The photographs featured in this publication capture the highlights of the pilgrimage: the procession “The Pilgrim’s Way” to St. Peter’s Basilica, the passage through the Holy Door, the meeting of Ukrainian pilgrims with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the tomb of the Apostle Peter, as well as the communal prayer, fellowship, and unity of the Ukrainian pilgrims.
The photo album combines documentary elements with spiritual reflection on the pilgrimage. The accompanying texts explore the themes of pilgrimage, encounter, prayer, and Christian hope, which lie at the heart of the publication.
In addition to photographs and accompanying texts, the publication includes the official text of Pope Leo XIV’s spiritual message to the Ukrainian community, as well as His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s homily delivered during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
The publication is intended not only to preserve the memory of the historic pilgrimage of the UGCC to the tomb of the Apostle Peter, but also to bear witness to the living faith, unity, and resilience of the Ukrainian people in times of war and trial.
Secretariat of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome
