The Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of its foundation, continues in Rome and is themed “Fifty Years in Service of Europe. Memory and perspectives in the light of the encyclical ‘Fratelli tutti’”.
In the evening, the leaders of the European episcopates took part in a Mass led by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. After the Mass, a joint prayer was held at the Tomb of St. Peter.
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church participating in the Assembly, in the interview for Vatican Radio spoke about the role of the UGCC in the Church’s mission in Europe, the Christian roots of Europe and the new challenges facing the church across the continent.
“Our Church came out of underground after the collapse of the Soviet Union and has been rebuilding its structures for 30 years, carrying the word of God in post-Soviet society, which is marked by the new and very powerful challenges of secularization. The resurrection of the Church in Ukraine is a testament to hope for Europe. Ukrainian society on the basis of the Church is reviving its statehood and today defending its independence,” the head of the UGCC said.
According to him, the Church is the humus of community state construction. It should not seek privilege in the modern world. The task of the Church is to preach the word of God and bring modern man to God.
“Today, the task of the Church of the third millennium is to gather people around the Risen Christ,” the head of the UGCC is confident.
When asked what values that exist in Europe should be used by Ukrainian society, Patriarch Sviatoslav answered:
“We must not just draw on the life-giving power of living Christian roots, but also respect the human person, respect the value of life from conception to natural death. The value of living in a war-torn Ukraine is important. Everyone should feel worthy and be able to develop their gifts given by God. This is European Christian humanism, which creates the life of a civilization of love and creates Europe.”
Given that Pope Francis often calls on Europe to be open to others, the head of the UGCC is convinced that we can survive only when we are together.
“We need to be together to survive in the modern world and build a better future,” Patriarch Sviatoslav concluded.