Jubilee of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome

Accompanied by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head of the UGCC, the Holy Father ascended to the altar and began the meeting with the sign of the holy cross and a greeting that we have become accustomed to hearing from him since the day of his election: “Peace be with you all!”

He then addressed those present with the following speech.

“Dear brothers in the episcopate,

Dear priests and religious,

Dear sisters, dear brothers!

I cordially greet all of you, dear faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who have come to the tomb of the Apostle Peter on the occasion of the Jubilee Year. I greet His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, the bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful.

Your pilgrimage is a sign of the desire to renew the faith, to strengthen the bond and communion with the Bishop of Rome, and to bear witness to the hope that does not disappoint, because it is born from the love of Christ poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5). The Jubilee calls us to become pilgrims of that hope throughout our lives, despite the adversities of the present moment. The journey to Rome, the passage through the Holy Door, and standing before the tombs of the Apostles and Martyrs are symbols of this daily journey towards eternity, where the Lord will wipe away every tear and there will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain (cf. Rev 21:4).

Many of you, in order to get here, have set out from your beautiful land, rich in Christian faith, fruitful in the Gospel witness of numerous saints, and watered by the blood of many martyrs who, over the centuries, have sealed their fidelity to the Apostle Peter and his Successors with the gift of their lives.

Faith, my dear ones, is a treasure to be shared. Every moment brings difficulties, struggles, and challenges, but also opportunities to grow in trust and devotion to God.

The faith of your people is now being severely tested. Since the war began, many of you have probably asked yourselves, Lord, why is this happening? Where are you? What must we do to save our families, our homes, and our homeland? To believe does not mean to have all the answers, but to trust that God is with us and gives us His grace, that He will have the last word, and that life will triumph over death.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, so dear to the Ukrainian people, who with her humble and courageous “yes” opened the door to the salvation of the world, assures us that our “yes,” simple and sincere, can become an instrument in God’s hands for accomplishing something great. I urge you, strengthened in faith by the Successor of Saint Peter, to share it with your loved ones, your fellow citizens, and all those whom the Lord will bring you to meet. Saying “yes” today can open new horizons of faith, hope, and peace, especially for all those who are in sorrow.

Sisters and brothers, in welcoming you here, I wish to express my closeness to suffering Ukraine, to children, young people, the elderly, and especially to families mourning their loved ones. I share your pain for the captives and victims of this senseless war. I entrust to the Lord your intentions, your daily difficulties and tragedies, and above all, your desire for peace and tranquilly.

I encourage you to move forward together, pastors and faithful, looking intently at Jesus, our salvation. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the Mother of Hope precisely because of her union with the sufferings of her Son, guide and protect you. I cordially bless all of you, your families, your Church, and your people. Thank you.”

Vatican MediaAfterwards, everyone present sang the Lord’s Prayer, and then the Holy Father gave his blessing to those present. The Pope then greeted the bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church who had gathered in Rome for the annual Synod of Bishops, among whom was Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne.

Before leaving the basilica, the Holy Father greeted a delegation of mothers of fallen soldiers.

Photo: Oleksandr Savranskyi
Source: Vatican News

See also

July 2 “I pray that peace will return to Ukraine as soon as possible,” Pope Leo XIV June 29 Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at Vatican Pilgrimage: “Today, the Patriarchal Council Was Celebrated in a Liturgical Manner” June 27 Leo XIV: “Thank you to the congregations that provide religious for episcopal ministry”