During a meeting at the Vatican with members of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV assured them of his closeness to the Ukrainian people, noting the strength of their faith and hope in the midst of war.
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
In his address to the bishops, Pope Leo XIV recalled his meeting with Ukrainian pilgrims on June 28 during the Jubilee Pilgrimage of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to St. Peter’s Basilica.
He noted that the jubilee year 2025 is intended to renew the hope of all God’s people, emphasizing that hope does not disappoint because it is based on the love of God in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The Pope noted that “of course, in the current historical circumstances, it is not easy to speak of hope to you and to the people entrusted to your pastoral care.”
“It is not easy to find words of comfort for families who have lost loved ones in this senseless war. I can imagine how difficult it is for you, who are in daily contact with people wounded in heart and body. Despite this, I receive numerous testimonies of faith and hope from the men and women of your people. This is a sign of God’s power, which is manifested amid the ruins of destruction,” the Pope emphasized.
Pope Leo XIV also stressed that he is aware of the many problems that bishops are called upon to address, both in the ecclesiastical and humanitarian spheres.
“I am close to you and, through you, to all the faithful of your Church. Let us remain united in one faith and one hope. Our unity is a great mystery, which is a reality even with those brothers and sisters whose lives have been torn from this earth but accepted by God. In Him, everything lives and acquires full meaning,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized.
At the end of the meeting, the Pontiff noted that he was praying for peace to return to Ukraine as soon as possible and asked the bishops to pray the “Our Father” in Ukrainian.
“I really enjoyed praying this prayer with you last Saturday,” he said.
The head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav, thanked the Pope for his words about the pastoral zeal of the bishops of the UGCC, as well as for the support that the Pope constantly shows to the Ukrainian people.
He emphasized that the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, through this audience, attests that “all our synodal activities take place in full and visible communion with the Bishop of Rome.”
On behalf of the Synod of Bishops, Sviatoslav presented Pope Leo XIV with an icon of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of Kyiv. In addition, he handed the Pope lists of Ukrainian prisoners and missing persons.
At the end of the meeting, the head of the UGCC invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Ukraine.
Sviatoslav also assured that Ukraine prays for the Pope every day. In response, Pope Leo XIV assured him that he also prays daily for Ukraine and its people.
As reported by Ukrinform, Pope Leo XIV met with Ukrainian pilgrims at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on June 28.
Photo: ugcc.ua
Source: Pope Leo XIV assures Ukraine of support, prays for peace
