Ukrainian women bring faith to Italian families, Pope Francis at the meeting with faithful

Pope Roman Francis today, January 28, met with Ukrainian pilgrims at St. Sophia Cathedral. The believers met the Holy Father with a Christmas carols.

Patriarch of the UGCC Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) greeted the Pope and thanked him for his visit. 

“On behalf of the entire Ukrainian community in Ukraine, Italy and throughout the world, I warmly welcome you at this symbolic Ukrainian basilica of St. Sophia in Rome,” said the head of the UGCC.

In his speech, Pope Francis has noted that the present-day meeting urges him to express gratitude to many people who are not currently in the church. According to him, first of all, three figures deserve to be honored now. The first is Patriarch Josyp Slipyy, whose 125th birthday anniversary was marked by the Church in the year that has just ended.

The second is Bishop Stephan Chmil, who reposed in the Lord 40 years ago and was buried in this cathedral.

“This is a person who did a lot of good things in my life. I remember concelebrating him in my youth during the worship of God. From him I learned about the beauty of your Liturgy. From his stories, I learned how many trials your Church experienced and how faith became tempered in horrible atheistic persecution,” the Pontiff shared his memories.

 “The third figure I want to mention is Cardinal Lubomyr Husar. We became cardinals on the same day. He was not only the Father and Head of your Church, but also a leader, an elder brother. Many people remember his love and perceptible prayerful presence until the very end ...

 These witnesses of the past were open to God's future, so they give hope in the present.” said the Roman Pontiff.