Representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches in Rome to meet with Pope Francis
"During the war, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches, which unites all Christians, Jews, and Muslims of Ukraine, turned into a powerful voice of civil society. This is a unique platform where different churches and religious communities have an opportunity to speak with one voice in the name of protecting our people and state and cooperate together for the common good," His Beatitude Sviatoslav said in the Open Church TV show.
He noted that it is important for representatives of the AUCCRO to have the opportunity to convey the voice of the Ukrainian people to His Holiness Father Francis.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav stated that we speak with one voice, so the position on exposing the crimes of Russia, exposing the heresy of the Russian World, is not only the voice of Greek Catholics. This is an objective reality, which representatives of all churches and religious organizations now confirm.
An important message is the understanding of Ukrainians of what peace is. We see that in the mouth of the Russian aggressor, the word "peace" undergoes a diabolical mutation. For him, it means the destruction of Ukraine. Moreover, since Russia's war against Georgia, the formula of "forcing on peace" has been used. And today, Russian peacekeepers are coming to force us to peace, that is, to kill us. "It is important to convey the truth about true peace. For Ukrainians, real peace is a victory over the Russian aggressor," the UGCC Patriarch said.
He noted that representatives of the AUCCRO will meet with the Holy Father, with the head of Vatican diplomacy, Vatican secretary of State Pietro Parolin, as well as with Kurt Koch, who heads the Dicastery on Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue. "This trip will have historical significance. We hope that the voice of various churches and religious organizations will be heard and bring good concrete fruits for our sick people," the first hierarch summed up.
