On July 15–18, 2025, a delegation from the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) visited Ukraine on a solidarity mission. The purpose of the visit was to enhance an understanding of the ongoing war and to express spiritual and moral support for the Ukrainian people.
According to the UGCC Department for Information, the delegation included Bishop Mariano Crociata, President; Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary General; and Marek Michalak, Advisor on EU External Relations. They were accompanied by Bishop Stepan Sus, Chairman of the Pastoral and Migration Department of the UGCC, and Fr. Ihor Shaban, Chairman of the UGCC Commission on Interfaith and Interreligious Relations.
The centerpiece of the visit was a meeting between the COMECE delegation and His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC. During the discussion, held in a fraternal atmosphere, the parties addressed the tragic consequences of the full-scale war, the Church’s role in the humanitarian response, and the importance of European solidarity — political, social, and spiritual. His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked COMECE for its steadfast support of Ukraine at the international level and called for continued prayer and advocacy: “Today, we need a voice of moral authority that will bear witness to the truth. The Church in Europe has the power to be that voice.”
One of the key moments of the COMECE visit was a stop at the Lviv Center for Providing Services to Combatants — a place offering psychological, social, and spiritual support to Ukrainian soldiers and their families. The delegation met with veterans, volunteers, and psychologists, thanking them for their courage and sacrifice.
They were also briefed on Church-led initiatives for the post-traumatic adaptation and rehabilitation of military personnel.
The delegation’s participation in the funeral of a fallen Ukrainian soldier at the Garrison Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Lviv carried deep symbolic weight. In silence and prayer, the European Church leaders honored the memory of the fallen and stood in unity with those who daily risk the most precious gift — their lives — for the sake of freedom and human dignity.
While in Lviv, the delegation also met with Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. The meeting addressed the city’s wartime challenges, including the reception of internally displaced persons, development of social services, and rebuilding of infrastructure. The parties also discussed the value of support from European partner cities and the Church’s role in fostering social cohesion and healing.
Another important stop on the agenda was a visit to the Institute of Ecumenical Studies at the Ukrainian Catholic University. There, the delegation learned about the Institute’s academic and social work aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, religious freedom, and mutual understanding. The COMECE delegation praised the UGCC’s ecumenical efforts, which combine theological depth with practical responses to today’s ecumenical challenges.
The COMECE visit to Ukraine was more than a diplomatic gesture — it was a profound expression of Christian solidarity. In a time of war and suffering, spiritual presence, empathy, and shared prayer serve as vital signs of hope for the Ukrainian people.
Reference
COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union) is an organization that represents the Catholic bishops of EU member states in the institutions of the European Union. Its mission is to be the voice of the Church in the public sphere in Europe, promoting peace, justice, solidarity, and the protection of human dignity.