CHIEF MESSAGE TO POPE FROM UGKTs HEAD: THIS IS NOT CIVIL WAR BUT WAR OF RUSSIA AGAINST THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGKTs), Patriarch Sviatoslav, held a press conference for representatives of international publications accredited to the Apostolic See. The moderator of the meeting with journalists was Federico Lombardi, press secretary of Pope Francis. The topic of the meeting was "Pastoral ministry of UGKTs in conditions of war."
In his speech to journalists, His Beatitude Sviatoslav summed up the Ad Limina visit of Ukrainian bishops of the UGKTs synod which lasted for the past week in the Eternal City. The primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church noted "that this visit was the occasion for the hierarchy of our church to relay to the Holy Father the pain of the Ukrainian people and to pray at the tombs of the supreme apostles for peace in our country.
"In speaking with Pope Francis, we described for him how Ukraine is the victim of aggression by a neighboring state. We are not talking about a civil war within our state, but about a direct, although undeclared, war against the Ukrainian people," His Beatitude Sviatoslav said. He also noted that the Holy Father heard with great sympathy about the massiveness of the humanitarian catastrophe that Ukrainian society is now experiencing. The primate of UGKTs also repeated the words of the Holy Father in this regard: "I am alongside you and at your service." "These words of the pope explained for me the profound significance of one of the titles of the Holy Father—'Servant of the servants of God,'" His Beatitude Sviatoslav commented, and he added that "the words of the pope assured us that our church is going in the right direction, to be alongside its flock."
The head of UGKTs also described for journalists the pastoral ministry of UGKTs in conditions of war and the social work of various philanthropic organizations that are helping refugees and those wounded in the war. "Today about 80 percent of the Ukrainian society is involved in various kinds of volunteer activity. People are united, helping one another, despite their religious affiliation," and this, His Beatitude Sviatoslav said, "is real, practical ecumenism. The religious peace that we have managed to secure in our society is an enormous treasure for us." The hierarchs of UGKTs also addressed the Holy Father with a request for assistance in overcoming this humanitarian catastrophe with the help of the international community
Responding to journalists' question about the pope's words about respect for international law, His Beatitude Sviatoslav commented: "When the Apostolic See speaks about the necessity of adhering to international law, this calls for respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. If a neighboring state indulges itself in the annexation of Crimea, it is violating all norms of international law." This was reported by the Department of Information of UGKTs, citing the press service of the society Holy Wisdom. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 February 2015)
BISHOP JAN SOBILO: WAR HAS DRAWN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH IN UKRAINE CLOSER
The auxiliary bishop of the Kharkov-Zaporozhe diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Jan Sobilo, who was in Rome for an Ad Limina Apostolorum visit, gave an interview to Radio Vatican.
Bishop Jan noted that due to the internal unity among Catholic bishops of Ukraine, who arrived for a meeting in these days with Pope Francis, it has been possible also to build unity among peoples in Ukraine and with all neighbors. The hierarch described the current close cooperation between Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic priests in the territories engulfed in war in the east of Ukraine. "This war and this trouble have drawn us very close, and we feel that we are one church," Bishop Jan Sobiolo emphasized.
We recall that the question of relations among clergy of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine and the UGKTs was raised by Pope Francis himself while exhorting the bishops during their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit to the Vatican.
At the fourth exhortation (there were five in all) the pope told the Ukrainian bishops of the western and eastern rites: "I am personally saddened to hear that there exist among you misunderstandings and wounds. There is the need for a physician, and he is Jesus Christ, whom you serve wholeheartedly, . . . and I urge you to find among yourselves the means to accept one another and to support one another generously in your apostolic labors. . . . Therefore I consider joint meetings of all churches operating in Ukraine extremely important. And you must always be sincere in communicating as brothers." (tr. by PDS, posted 25 February 2015)
POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR OBSERVING CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE
Portal-credo.ru, 23 February 2015
Roman Pope Francis on 20 February again called all participants in the armed conflict in Ukraine to fulfill the agreements achieved previously and to observe the ceasefire, RIA Novosti reports.
Francis received bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the autonomous Mukachevo Greek Catholic diocese, and the Catholic Church of the Latin rite in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican.
Addressing the bishops of various Catholic churches operating in Ukraine who arrived at the Vatican, the pontiff expressed concern because this country has for many months now been engulfed "in acute conflict which continues to create numerous innocent victims and enormous suffering for the entire population."
Francis declared that he continues to pray for those who have been killed and he asks the Lord to grant peace to Ukraine. "I urge all involved parties to fulfill the agreements achieved by common consent and to observe the principle of international legality. In particular, the recently signed ceasefire must be observed, and all other obligations, which are the conditions for preventing a resumption of armed actions, should be fulfilled," the head of the Roman Catholic Church emphasized.
The pope noted that the profound crisis in Ukraine arose because of a perverted understanding of economic freedom, the result of which was the formation of a narrow group of persons who have enriched themselves immensely in contrast to the majority of citizens. In connection with this, the pontiff called the bishops first of all "to be defenders of families and the poor, unemployed, weak, sick, elderly pensioners, disabled, and homeless."
Francis also called for the unity of all Catholics of Ukraine, pointing out that he knows about the existence of complicated historic causes of the division of believers. "The fact remains inescapable that both episcopates are Catholic and Ukrainian, although differences in rites and traditions remain. I personally feel pain when I hear about misunderstanding and wounds. A physician is needed, and this is Jesus Christ, whom you all serve with all your heart. You are one body," the pontiff proclaimed. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 February 2015)
POPE FRANCIS MAY VISIT UKRAINE IN NEAR FUTURE
Portal-credo.ru, 24 February 2015
Roman Pope Francis may visit Ukraine in the near future. This was reported in a broadcast on "5 Channel" by Yury Tandit, the head of the United Interagency Coordinating Center for Freeing Prisoners of War under the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, RBK Ukraine reports.
"I returned from the Vatican several days ago, where we met with Pope Francis. The day before yesterday, he was handed a letter from President Poroshenko with the invitation, and he told us that he will come to Ukraine. Therefore I want to congratulate Ukrainians because most likely Roman Pope Francis, who prays for peace in our country, will come to us," Tandit reported.
We recall that on 22 February, Pope Francis discussed the situation in Ukraine with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 February 2015)
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