Bishop Vitaly Skomarovsky elected the new Chair of the RCC episcopate in Ukraine

The plenary session of the episcopate began with the coronation of God's mercy and the litany of St. John Paul II.

Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, attended the meeting. Topical issues and challenges facing the Church in Ukraine in view of the war were discussed, as well as possible prayer initiatives within the framework of the year of God's Mercy, which is determined by the conference of bishops for this year.

They discussed topical issues and challenges facing the Church in Ukraine due to the war, as well as possible prayer initiatives within the framework of the year of God's Mercy, which is determined by the conference of bishops for this year.

Prayers and the Eucharist were held these days for Ukraine, its defenders and all the victims of the war, the dead and for mercy for our people.

On the first day, the bishops met with a delegation from the International Catholic charity organization "Kirche in Not". The episcopate thanked the organization for its long-term and effective assistance to the Church in Ukraine. Further cooperation is planned to organize assistance for war victims in Ukraine, which includes not only the material component but, first of all, rehabilitation programs for war victims, military families, etc.

The bishops of the Eparchies of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia and Odesa-Simferopol reported on the situation and needs of the Church in the temporarily occupied territories.

The Commission for Liturgy presented the best practices on the Liturgy of the Hours, the liturgical agendas and the calendar.

Archbishop Mokrzycki, Bishops Yazlovetsky and Zmitrowicz reported on their participation in the European Continental Assembly, which took place in Prague on February 5-12, 2023, as part of the synodal process.

President of the Republic of Moldova "Caritas-Spes Ukraine" Bishop Yazlovetsky, together with executive director Fr. Hrynevych, SAC presented the mission's activities and cooperation with international partners, outlined the directions and plan of cooperation between local cells and foreign organizations.

The bishops agreed on prayer events for the 80th anniversary of the Volyn tragedy, which will be held with the participation of the episcopate in Lutsk on July 9.

During the working meeting, the bishops expressed concern and noted dangerous trends in light of recent bills to legalize same-sex unions and raise children outside the human body. These legislative initiatives cross out natural laws and therefore cross out the creator. Because of the war and the lack of public discussion, individual forces seek to use the chance to harm a healthy society and the institution of the family.

During the meeting, a new Chair of the conference of bishops of Ukraine was elected – bishop Vitaly Skomarovsky, an ordinary of Lutsk. Bishop Vitaly Kryvytsky of SDB became Deputy Chair, and Bishop Edward Kava OFMConv became secretary of the conference.

During the meeting, the heads of some commissions were also changed. Taking into account the needs, two new commissions were created: church law and church movements and communities. The following commissions operate at the episcopate conference:

Commission on Doctrine, headed by Bishop Mykola Luchok OR;

Catechetical Commission - Bishop Leon Dubravsky OFM;

Commission on Clergy and Priestly Vocations - Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk;

Commission for Liturgy and Sacred Art - Bishop Jacek Pyl OMI, Bishop Stanislaw Shyrokoradiuk OFM;

Commission for the Pastoral Care of Families - Bishop Radoslav Zmitrowicz OMI (also serves as an assistant to the Light-Life movement);

Commission for General Pastoral Care - Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki;

Commission for Men's Orders and Congregations - Bishop Edward Kawa OFMConv;

Commission for Women's Orders and Congregations - Bishop Edward Kawa OFMConv;

Commission for the Pastoral Care of Youth - Bishop Jan Sobilo;

Church-State Commission - Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyy SDB;

Bishop Oleksandr Yazlovetskyy, Caritas-Spes Commission;

Ecumenical Commission - Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyy SDB;

Commission on Integral Human Development - Bishop Leon Maly;

Commission on Public Communications - Bishop Mykola Luchok OR;

Commission for Military Pastoral Care - Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk;

Commission on Church Law - Bishop Oleksandr Yazlovetskyy;

Environmental Commission - Bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradiuk OFM;

Commission of church movements and communities – Bishop Radoslav Zmitrowicz OMI.

The meeting adopted the text of an appeal to the faithful on the occasion of the day of protection of life, which is celebrated on March 25.