The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis.
As reported by Vatican News on social network X, Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, according to LB.ua.
The head of the Catholic Church died at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, with his pontificate lasting more than 12 years.
As reported by UGCC press service, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, expressed sorrow over the Pope's death, stating:
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with deep sadness that I must announce the death of His Holiness Father Francis. Today at 7:35 a.m., Bishop Francis of Rome reposed in the Lord. His entire life was dedicated to serving the Lord and His Church. He taught us how to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, particularly for the poorest and most marginalized. With infinite gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God.”
Support for Ukraine
Since the onset of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, Pope Francis has demonstrated profound empathy for the "martyred" Ukrainian people. He has condemned the war multiple times and called on the world to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. His support has manifested not only through words but also through concrete actions, including:
- Weekly public calls for prayer for peace in Ukraine during general audiences and the Angelus prayers in the Vatican.
- Even while hospitalized, Pope Francis prayed for Ukraine, stating on March 2, 2025, “I pray first of all for peace. This makes war seem even more absurd. Let us pray for the suffering Ukraine, for Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Kivu.”
- Personal meetings with Ukrainians, including the families of prisoners of war and victims of the conflict.
- Humanitarian aid: The Vatican has sent medicines, food, and funds to the affected regions.
- The Pope's envoys to Ukraine: Cardinal Konrad Krajewski has made repeated trips to the war zone to deliver aid.
- Support for Ukrainian refugees: Pope Francis has consistently urged Catholic communities worldwide to welcome and assist internally displaced persons from Ukraine, leading to the establishment of refugee assistance centers in many European countries.
- The “Pope for Ukraine” campaign: Initiated in 2016 following the start of Russian aggression in Donbas, this large-scale humanitarian campaign raised over 16 million euros from Catholic parishes in Europe. Cardinal Pietro Parolin personally delivered the initial funds to Ukraine.
Pope Francis and the UGCC
Pope Francis shared a special connection with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). He was raised by a Ukrainian priest, Stepan Chmil, which deepened his understanding of the Eastern tradition and the UGCC. In January 2018, the Pope visited Hagia Sophia in Rome, where he stated that he prays daily in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary gifted by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, thus "starting and ending the day in a Ukrainian way." In July 2019, he met with the Primate and Metropolitans of the UGCC in the Vatican, where he reaffirmed his support for Ukraine.
An important milestone for the Ukrainian Church came in 2015 when Pope Francis recognized the "heroic virtues" of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, an essential step towards his beatification. This acknowledgment highlighted the Metropolitan's role in developing the UGCC, his humanitarian efforts, and his assistance to those persecuted during World War II.
In December 2024, Pope Francis conferred cardinal dignity on Mykola Bychko, the Bishop of the Melbourne Eparchy of the UGCC, marking another significant step in recognizing the Ukrainian Catholic community on a global scale.