The conclusion of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher’s mission in Ukraine — as the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations — marked the end of a long journey: nearly 900 km by car from Kyiv to Kraków via Lviv. During his six-day stay in a country ravaged by war since 2014, he held numerous meetings of a political, institutional, and pastoral nature.
In an interview with Vatican media, Archbishop Gallagher summarized the visit and explained what the Holy See can do to end hostilities, as reported by Vatican Radio.
"My visit had both a pastoral and a diplomatic purpose… On the diplomatic side, we met with the authorities, including the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and we heard many testimonies about the suffering endured by the population. There is no doubt about it: the exhaustion caused by this violence is clearly visible. At the same time, however, one encounters a determined and resilient people, fully aware of the many sacrifices made by their fellow citizens for the sake of their country. What struck and moved me most was the courage of the people, their determination, and also their faith in God the Father. There is a firm resolve to live as normal a life as possible: to continue working, to care for their children, to look after the elderly, and to foster solidarity with those who have suffered under bombardment. I was deeply impressed by their nobility of spirit and by their determination to preserve their freedom and independence," Archbishop Gallagher emphasized.
The main purpose of the trip was to attend the celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the resumption of activities by the Roman Catholic Church, which took place at the Marian Shrine in Berdychiv on Sunday, July 19, 2026, with thousands of the faithful in attendance. According to him, at the shrine in Berdychiv during the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, it was fascinating to witness the devotion of the people of Ukraine to the Mother of God.
During the mission, Gallagher found the visits to bombed-out areas, the memorial on Maidan, and the people who had suffered the loss of loved ones and property damage in their homes particularly moving.
"Faith has sustained these people. They are convinced — and they say so openly — that they are fighting not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe. I believe they feel they have no alternative. For them, this is a struggle for the very survival of their nation. Of course, we know that there are differing views about certain historical issues underlying the positions of the parties involved. But the reality today is that this country simply wishes to continue being what it was before the war, and for that reason, its people are prepared to suffer," the Archbishop said.
According to him, in his interactions with the authorities, he observed a deep sense of gratitude toward the Holy Father: "They feel supported by the closeness shown first by Pope Francis and now by Pope Leo. This encourages the Holy See to renew its commitment to dialogue with the international community and with the Russian authorities, and to continue its humanitarian efforts, such as the mission entrusted to Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, who continues working for the return of children, prisoners, and civilians. For me, this has been a profoundly positive experience. Beyond the logistical effort and the long journey required to reach Ukraine, it has allowed me to touch the reality of today's world with my own hands. We must remember that not everyone lives as we do in Italy or in my native England. There is a dark and troubling reality in our world today. We must not give in. In our own way, we too are called to strive, doing our part with the means available to us, in order to build peace."
As the Vatican representative emphasized, the Holy Father takes the invitation to visit Ukraine very seriously. Currently, the Vatican will continue to "study the conditions necessary to determine the right time and the most appropriate way for such a visit to bear the greatest possible fruit for Ukraine and for peace in the world."
When asked whether it will be possible to achieve at least a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in the near future, Archbishop Gallagher replied: "During these days, I have seen a strong determination on the Ukrainian side to work towards that goal. It is difficult for me to say whether this can be achieved in the immediate future, but we must continue to work in that direction."