The European Congress of Ukrainians (ECU) thanked Cardinal, Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, Don Antonio Marto for his prayers for Ukraine and Ukrainians.
According to Ukrinform, the respective gratitude was announced on Facebook by the chairman of the Union of Ukrainians in Portugal, regional vice-president of the World Congress of Ukrainians in Western and Southern Europe Pavlo Sadokha.
The ECU stressed that today Ukrainians continue to need special prayers for peace. Thousands of Ukrainians died from the new Russian aggression, and millions had to leave their homes. Powerful troops are concentrated on the borders of our state, which are ready to start a full-scale war against Ukraine.
"Therefore, we express our special gratitude to you for your prayerful support for Ukraine. Your participation in the service together with Greek Catholic pilgrims once again showed us the openness and unity of the Catholic Church, which cares for each of its members and for the peaceful coexistence of humanity in general," the appeal says.
On November 13 in Portugal, the cornerstone and construction site of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the monastery of the Basilian Fathers of the UGCC in Fatima was consecrated, which was an event of great spiritual significance for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Portugal and around the world.