One year ago, everyone was leaving Kyiv. Today, we see the US President in the center of the capital, - Head of the UGCC met with Vatican officials

This is reported by the Secretariat of the head of the UGCC in Rome.

"To sum up this year, there are two opposite feelings in my heart. On the one hand, there is a sense of joy and gratitude to God, who helped us survive and serve our people, gratitude to the international community and the Ecumenical Church for solidarity with us in this difficult year. On the other hand, there is impotence in trying to stop this terrible war. The whole world feels powerless before this absurd and sacrilegious war," His Beatitude Sviatoslav said.

Speaking about the pastoral and humanitarian service of the UGCC in the occupied and liberated territories, the Primate stated with sadness that "every day war takes the lives of many people and, unfortunately, our helplessness in saving the tortured and killed is a great wound on the body of our people."

The Head of the UGCC stressed that Ukrainian society, after a year of "inhuman war, is deeply traumatized." It was this topic that was given special attention at the last Synod of Bishops to develop the necessary pastoral plan "healing the wounds of war as a priority of our ministry". "Every Ukrainian soul is deeply wounded today. If a person has survived a bombing at least once in their life, this wound will affect their personality for a long time," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav and expressed his admiration for those bishops, priests, monks and nuns who "touch the wounds of Christ on the body of many wounded Ukrainians every day in their service."

At the same time, the Church must give people the light of hope: "our faith and full hope in God help us survive in these terrible conditions and, as a church, we first of all continue to pray for a just peace for Ukraine."

Commenting on various" projects and peace proposals for Ukraine", the Head of the UGCC noted: "as a church, we are trying to explain that this is not only about the liberation of territories, but first of all about our people. We must release people who suffer daily torture and persecution in the occupied territories." In this context, His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalled the arrested priests in Berdyansk.

"Unfortunately, no requests or diplomatic efforts have helped in their release."

Answering a question about President Biden's visit to Kyiv, the head of the UGCC compared the situation in Kyiv at the beginning and after a year of the great war in Ukraine: "Exactly a year ago, we were witnessing the evacuation of all diplomatic missions from Kyiv. After the Russian invasion, only Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Viswaldas Kulbokas and the Polish Ambassador remained in our capital. On the anniversary of the war, we see that the President of the United States and many other world political leaders are coming to Kyiv. These visits are a sign for us that the world has believed in Ukraine and is helping us in our struggle for freedom, independence and democratic values."