His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head of the UGCC, received many appeals from the faithful of the Church and civil society, both from Ukraine and abroad, regarding this year's Way of the Cross Procession in Rome on Good Friday. Ukrainians were outraged that Ukrainians and Russians should carry the cross together. The head of the UGCC was asked to convey to the Apostolic Capital the rejection of this plan by Ukrainians worldwide.
In a comment for the UGCC Information Department on this occasion, His Beatitude Sviatoslav said: "I consider such an idea untimely, ambiguous and such that does not consider the context of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. For the Greek Catholics of Ukraine, the texts and gestures of the XIII station of this Way of the Cross are incomprehensible and even offensive, especially in the context of expecting the second, even bloodier attack of Russian troops on our cities and villages. I know that our Roman Catholic brothers share these thoughts and emotions."
The head of the UGCC said that he had already conveyed to the Vatican the numerous negative reactions of many bishops, priests, monks and nuns and laity who are convinced that gestures of reconciliation between our peoples will be possible only when the war is over and those guilty of crimes against humanity are justly punished.
The head of the UGCC asked to reconsider this project. "I hope that my request, the request of the faithful of our Church, the request of the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine will be heard," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.