During a meeting at the Vatican with members of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness to the Ukrainian people, noting the strength of their faith and hope in the midst of war.
This was reported by the UGCC press service. In his address to the bishops, Pope Leo XIV recalled the meeting with Ukrainian pilgrims on June 28 during the Jubilee Pilgrimage of the UGCC at St. Peter’s Basilica. He remarked that the Jubilee Year 2025 is meant to renew the hope of all God’s people, emphasizing that hope does not disappoint because it is grounded in 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 their loved ones in this senseless war. I can imagine how hard this is for you, who are in daily contact with people wounded in both body and soul. 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 that is revealed even amid the ruins of destruction,” the Pope emphasized.
Pope Leo XIV also acknowledged the many challenges the bishops are called to address, both in the ecclesial 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 that is real even with those brothers and sisters whose lives have been taken from this earth but are now received by God. In Him, all things live and find their full meaning,” Pope Leo XIV stressed.
At the end of the meeting, the Pontiff said he is praying for peace to return to Ukraine as soon as possible and asked the bishops to pray the "Our Father" in Ukrainian.
“I truly enjoyed praying that 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 UGCC bishops and for the support the Pope continually shows the Ukrainian people.
He emphasized that the Synod of Bishops, through this audience, demonstrates that “all our synodal activity takes place in full and visible communion with the Bishop of Rome.”
On behalf of the Synod, Sviatoslav presented Pope Leo XIV with an icon of Saint Michael the Archangel, the patron of Kyiv. In addition, he handed the Pope lists of Ukrainian prisoners of war and missing persons.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the head of the UGCC invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Ukraine. Sviatoslav also assured him that Ukraine prays for the Pope every day. In response, Pope Leo XIV affirmed that he, too, prays daily for Ukraine and its people.
