“Ukraine is not alone in this struggle. It is not alone! Not alone!” — Head of the UGCC to the French Bishops at the close of his visit
On November 5, 2024, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, concluded his official visit to France by attending the opening of the Plenary Assembly of the French Bishops’ Conference in Lourdes.
The Plenary Assembly of the French Bishops’ Conference was attended by around 120 bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio to France, and Metropolitan Demetrius of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed the assembly, speaking to the French bishops.
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“For me, it is a unique, God-given opportunity to be here with you today, in Lourdes—a holy place for French Catholics and for the whole world, sanctified by the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” he said at the conclusion of his visit. He continued: “I thank God and all of you for the chance to make this visit of gratitude, responding to the invitation of the President of your bishops’ conference and his team. I thank you for being among the first bishops in Europe who, after the outbreak of this sacrilegious war, not only came to Kyiv but also opened your hearts, homes, churches, parishes, and monasteries to tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the war.”
The Head of the Church expressed his gratitude for the exceptional solidarity shown toward his people, which continues to grow each day: “This solidarity is human and Christian, social and humanitarian, diplomatic and informational. On behalf of our Church, I express my deep gratitude to all the employees and benefactors of the organization ‘L’Œuvre d’Orient,’ especially to Monsignor Pascal Gollnisch, for his numerous visits to Ukraine, his dedicated work, and his great assistance to our country.”
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The Primate shared that during his meeting, President Emmanuel Macron had asked, “Why are you resisting? What is the secret behind the resilience, courage, and invincibility of Ukrainians?” The Head of the Church responded with a message from Ukrainian youth, who bear the brunt of this war, young people who today attend more funerals of their friends than weddings: “We have the strength to resist because we hold values that make life meaningful. For us, these are dignity and freedom! Without them, life is not worth living!”
According to the spiritual leader, Ukrainians can stand against evil and hatred because they believe in God. “We live because we are not alone,” he emphasized.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav then recalled the words of Charles de Gaulle, addressed to the French at the beginning of World War II: “Yes, we are besieged by enemy forces—mechanical, ground, and aerial… But does this mean that the final word has been spoken? Must hope disappear? Is this defeat final? No! Believe me, I speak with knowledge of the facts and tell you that nothing is lost for France! The forces that have defeated us today can help bring the day of victory closer! Because France is not alone; it is not alone, it is not alone!”
“Ukraine is not alone in this struggle. Not alone! It is not alone” the Head of the UGCC concluded.
Recalling the history of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the President of the French Bishops’ Conference highlighted that the UGCC survived the terrible years of persecution “thanks to its deep spirituality and theology, open to the Universal Church.”
Additionally, Archbishop Beaufort told His Beatitude Sviatoslav that the moral tradition of the Church and the experience of the UGCC allow it to clearly expose the ideology of the “Russian world,” which serves as the foundation and justification for conquest and occupation.
“You also have a unique ability to guide the internal moral formation of society, enabling us to live in free societies that reinforce our inner freedom rather than allowing it to degrade,” he added.
In conclusion, the President of the French Bishops’ Conference acknowledged the work of the UGCC Eparchy of St. Volodymyr-Le-Grand de Paris, led by Rt. Rev. Hlib Lonchyna. On behalf of the French bishops, he expressed support for the Head of the UGCC, his mission, and the entire Church.
The meeting concluded with the consecration of the icon of the Virgin Mary of Zarvanytsia, which had been presented to the rector of the Lourdes Sanctuary during his visit to Ukraine for the All-Ukrainian pilgrimage to Zarvanytsia.
The UGCC Department for Information
