Papal legate to visit Ukraine on 25th anniversary of UGCC legalization

Pope Francis sends his legate - Cardinal ChristophSchönborn, Archbishop of Vienna,to Ukraine on December 10 to mark the 25th anniversary of the legalization of the UGCC.

“With this gesture Pope Francis wants to express its solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who is suffering now so hard,” said UGCC Head Sviatoslav (Shevchuk).

The hierarch says that currently it is 25 yearssince the historic meeting of St. Pope John Paul II and the then head of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. After that, our Church began the process of leaving the underground.

The UGCC Patriarchstresses that the visit of Cardinal Schönborn is important and significant. On the one hand, the whole Christian world can feel their unity with Christians in Ukraine. “On the other hand, says the hierarch, “the papal legate will meet with the President of Ukraine to discuss the current state-church relations in Ukraine, to remember the moment of freedom of the Church, and at the same time to determine the further steps to be made by the governmentso that the life of the UGCC in a free Ukrainian statemet European and international standards and norms.

Head of the Church said that the program visit the papal legate included some very interesting events. In particular, the meeting with the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. The Cardinal will visit people who lost their homes because of the fighting in eastern Ukraine. He will probably meet with wounded soldiers.

Patriarch Sviatoslav notes that the important part of the visit will beHis Eminence’s participation in a Vigil service in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection that will take place on December 10 from 19.00 to 21.15. The Vigil will be held under the slogan “Don’t be afraid, just believe”.The faithful will pray together for Ukraine, for our nation, states the Information Department of the UGCC.