His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, sent a letter of gratitude to Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, the president of the Polish Bishops' Conference. In his letter, he thanked Archbishop Wojda for the Polish bishops' statement that supports Ukrainian refugees and denounces xenophobia.
In his letter, His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed heartfelt gratitude to Bishop Tadeusz for their meeting and candid conversation during the Council of European Bishops' Conferences in Fatima. This meeting resulted in a statement from the Plenary Session of the Polish Bishops' Conference, which emphasized the importance of "maintaining good relations with Ukrainian war refugees" and firmly opposing any exploitation of refugees and migrants for political purposes. The statement also condemned the incitement of xenophobic sentiments in society. This information was shared by the UGCC Department for Information.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav highlighted that the Polish bishops' call for hospitality and kindness reflects a genuine love for one's neighbor and signifies solidarity with the Ukrainian people during these challenging times of war.
He noted that forced emigration often uproots individuals from their native environments, leading to feelings of acute loneliness and the risk of being lost. However, the presence of Ukrainian refugees in Poland fosters cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and integration, providing opportunities for sharing experiences and perspectives.
“By collectively responding to these painful challenges, we can transform our struggles into opportunities for building good neighborly relations and fostering cooperation and dialogue,” stated the Head of the UGCC.
As reported, the 402nd Plenary Session of the Polish Bishops' Conference took place from October 13 to 15, 2025, in Gdańsk, where one of the primary agenda items was the support of Ukrainian refugees and the fight against xenophobia.