UGCC Head Meets with Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine
On April 8, 2025, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine, Ms. Natalka Cmoc, at his residence in Kyiv. During the meeting, they discussed the pressing challenges facing the Ukrainian and Canadian peoples amid war and global shifts, as well as the development of state-civic partnerships and other matters of mutual interest.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav shared with the Ambassador his impressions of a recent pastoral tour to Canada with the bishops of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC. The visit coincided with a period of global upheaval—the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the first foreign policy steps by the new U. S. President, and the start of Canada’s own electoral campaign.
During his time in Canada, His Beatitude Sviatoslav met with members of the Canadian government, including the Speaker of Parliament, as well as Ukrainian communities in Toronto, Ottawa, and Winnipeg. A notable event was a rally in support of Ukraine in Toronto, where UGCC bishops addressed Canada’s diverse society.
The Head of the UGCC emphasized that Ukraine is at the epicenter of global change:
“While global trends are shifting in another direction, Ukrainians are going against the current, saying: ‘No to colonization! No to totalitarianism!’ And despite everything, they continue to fight. It happened in 1991, 2014, and 2022. Today, many countries hope Ukraine will endure this struggle—only then can democracy prevail. That’s why Canada so strongly hopes Ukraine will survive—and with it, democracy in Canada.”
The Ambassador asked about Canadian attitudes toward Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression, as observed by the UGCC bishops. His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized Canada’s consistent support, particularly in protecting the rights of Ukrainian refugees: “At our meeting in Ottawa, the Speaker of Parliament assured us: Canada has been, and will remain, with Ukraine. And Ukrainians in Canada will not be mistreated. That was a powerful sign of support for our people.”
Special attention was given to developing state-civic partnerships in Ukraine—especially collaboration between state institutions and civil society, of which the Church and other religious organizations are key parts.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav affirmed that the Church not only supports but also initiates such cooperation. He noted the recent work completed by the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on a draft law concerning church-state partnership, along with other initiatives in this area.
Both parties agreed that advancing state-civic cooperation is crucial for strengthening Ukraine’s democratic society.
The UGCC Department for Information
