UGCC Delegation Participates in the Pontifical Synod
On September 30, the XVI Ordinary Assembly of the Pontifical Synod of Bishops began in the Vatican and will last until October 29. “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” is the central theme of the synodal meeting of the Catholic Church. The UGCC is represented by His Beatitude Sviatoslav and Bishops Bohdan Dziurakh and Theodore Martyniuk.
On Saturday, September 30, an ecumenical prayer vigil called ‘Together’ took place in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It was attended by young people from around the world and leaders from various Christian churches. Additionally, children and teachers from St. Sophia Catholic School and the Liberton Choir, both of which are based at the UGCC Cathedral with the same name in Rome, were invited to participate in the program of the ecumenical prayer meeting. Notably, among the choir members are children from families internally displaced from Ukraine due to the war, as well as children from the Ukrainian diaspora in Rome.
In his speech, the Holy Father Francis emphasized the importance of silence in the life of the Church: “silence in the ecclesial community creates the conditions for fraternal communion, in which the Holy Spirit reconciles different views. To be synodal means to accept one another, recognizing that each of us has something to testify and something to learn as we come together to listen to the ‘Spirit of truth’ (John 14:17) to know what he ‘says to the churches’ (Revelation 2:7).”
After the ecumenical vigil, the delegates of the Pontifical Synod began a time of joint spiritual retreats, which are taking place in the Sacrofano retreat center near Rome. The working sessions will start on October 4 at the Vatican and end on October 29 with a Holy Mass led by Pope Francis.
Photo: Vatican Media
In his weekly address, His Beatitude Sviatoslav called the Pontifical Synod “a unique event of global significance in the life of the Catholic Church.” “Three delegates from our Church attended this Synod. Our Synod elected two other representatives, alongside the Head of the Church, Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh and Bishop Theodore Martyniuk. Together with all the bishops, clergy, and laity delegates to this Synod, we will pray and work together so that the synodal path of the universal Church will serve to renew Christian life throughout the world,” said the Head of the UGCC.
Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome
