'People are weary and strive for a lasting and just peace': UCCRO members to Archbishop Gallagher

This information was published on the UCCRO's website.

During the meeting, Ukrainian religious leaders spoke about UCCRO’s activities during the war, the current and future challenges facing Ukraine, and society’s expectations regarding the end of the war and the establishment of a just peace for Ukraine. They noted that, although people are weary of the war, they remain resilient and continue to strive for a truly just peace.

Representatives of the various faith communities also highlighted religious persecution and the lack of freedom of religion in the territories of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation, as well as church-state relations and the state of religious freedom in Ukraine under martial law.

The participants emphasized the importance of further developing relations between the Holy See and the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations in the context of UCCRO’s meetings with Pope John Paul II (2001), Pope Francis (2023), and other bilateral contacts. The parties also stressed the importance of raising their voices in various international forums, speaking the truth, and reminding the world about the war in Ukraine caused by Russia’s ongoing aggression.

As a token of appreciation and in remembrance of the meeting, UCCRO members presented Archbishop Paul Gallagher with a commemorative medal marking the 30th anniversary of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations.

Participants in the meeting between UCCRO and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, included: Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine; Monsignor Antons Prikulis of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See; Mr. Roberto Paglialonga of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See; and, representing UCCRO, Metropolitan Yevstratiy (Orthodox Church of Ukraine), representative of the Chair of UCCRO; Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi (Roman Catholic Church); Bishop Anatoliy Kozachok (Ukrainian Pentecostal Church); Pastor Igor Bandura (All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists); Fr. Oleksa Petriv (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church); Pastor Anatoliy Raichynets (Ukrainian Bible Society); Pastor Serhii Lokshyn (Ukrainian Christian Evangelical Church); Rabbi Avrohom Bleich (Association of Jewish Religious Organizations of Ukraine); Imam Rustem Asanov (Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea); Oleksandr (Adam) Didenko, representative of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine; Vladyslav Fediuk, Assistant to the Bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine; and Oleksandr Zaiets, Head of the Institute for Religious Freedom.