His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, sent letters of condolence and assurance of prayer to His Eminence Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, and His Eminence Franz Lackner, Archbishop of Salzburg and President of the Austrian Bishops.
“Last night we received terrible reports from Austria about an attack on innocent passers-by in the center of Vienna. On behalf of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, please allow me to express our deepest condolences and full solidarity with the people of Vienna. Our whole Church is praying with deep concern for the victims and their families, as well as for the security forces involved,” said the Head of the UGCC, addressing the Catholic hierarchs of Austria.
In his letter of condolence, His Beatitude Sviatoslav also notes that Austrian society has for many years been an extraordinary witness to the basic values of solidarity, fraternal unity, community and attention to others. That is why yesterday's terrorist attack against innocent people seems "especially painful."
"We pray that neither hatred nor violence will settle in the hearts of Austrians, but that love, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit will fill their hearts," wrote the UGCC Primate, assuring His Eminence Cardinal Schönborn and His Eminence Archbishop Lackner, of his own prayer and the prayers of the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church for the people of Vienna, especially those affected by the terrorist attacks.