In the course of his working visit to Brussels, Belgium, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Sviatoslav, held discussions with European Commission representatives: Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, and Michael Zibert, Executive Director for Eastern Europe.
This was reported by the Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome.
During the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav reminded the European Commission representatives of the visit of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations to Brussels in 2013. At that time, the religious community of Ukraine unanimously affirmed to top EU officials the steadfastness of Ukraine's European choice.
"In the current situation of the neo-colonial war that Russia is waging against Ukraine, we want to confirm Ukraine's unwavering determination to be part of the European family. Ukraine awaits an invitation to join the EU," emphasized the Head of UGCC.
Beatitude Sviatoslav discussed the situation in Ukraine and the pastoral ministry of UGCC amid the war, focusing on the main task of "healing the wounds of war" and providing social services. The parties also explored the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the need for close cooperation in the humanitarian sphere between relevant structures of the European Union and charitable church organizations.
Bishop Stepan Sus, the head of the Pastoral Migration Department of UGCC, shared the experience of UGCC's work with forcibly displaced migrants in European countries. He highlighted the role of UGCC communities in Europe as not only places of prayer but also active participants in social services.
Commissioner Varhelyi highly praised UGCC's humanitarian work and expressed hope that "together with you, we can overcome the challenges posed by Russian aggression worldwide."
During the meeting with Michael Zibert, the current religious situation in Ukraine and the role of churches and religious organizations in times of war were discussed. Zibert emphasized the Church's special task of "healing the spiritual wounds of war, which no state or social organization can accomplish."
It is worth noting that Beatitude Sviatoslav is in Brussels for a working visit at the invitation of Archbishop Mariano Crociata, President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe. The visit includes participation in the General Assembly of this organization and meetings at the level of the European Commission and the European Parliament. Bishop Stepan Sus, the head of the Pastoral Migration Department of UGCC, and Father Andriy Soletsky, the head of the Secretariat of the Head of UGCC in Rome, accompany the Head of UGCC.