On September 15, during his visit to Ukraine, the papal envoy Cardinal Konrad Kraevsky met in Odessa with Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, the UGCC Exarch of Odessa, clergy and faithful of the Exarchate of Odessa.
The meeting took place in the UGCC Cathedral Church of St. Andrew the First-Called, the UGCC Information Department reports.
During the meeting, Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy greeted the Cardinal and thanked him for his visit to Odessa: "Your Eminence, we cordially welcome you in Odessa, in our Cathedral, and through you, we want to convey words of sincere gratitude to the Holy Father Pope Francis for his constant care, for the prayers and support of our Ukrainian people, especially in this difficult time of Russia's war against Ukraine. Convey to him our respect and assurances of prayer for his health and the spiritual leadership of the Ecumenical Church."
The bishop of the UGCC in Odessa briefed the Cardinal on the humanitarian situation in the Exarchate of Odessa, noting that at the beginning of the war, humanitarian centers were established at each parish to help all those in need, especially internally displaced persons who suffered as a result of the war.
Fr Taras Pavlyus, the military chaplain and rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in Mykolayiv, commented on the humanitarian situation on the front line in the Mykolaiv region. In his speech to the audience, the priest said that the territory of the Mykolaiv region is being exposed to serious threats: shelling is constantly taking place, they experience serious shortages of drinking water, most of the infrastructure is destroyed.
According to the priest, a genocide of the Ukrainian people is evolving because, in this war, many civilians are being killed, particularly the elderly, children and young people who have nowhere to go and no money to live.
At the end of the meeting, a joint prayer was offered to the Most Holy Theotokos for peace in Ukraine. The papal envoy granted the apostolic blessing to all those present and distributed icons and rosaries from the Holy Father. Therefore, Bishop Mykhailo invited Cardinal Konrad Krajewski to a private meeting and conversation at the bishop's residence.