The Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Sviatoslav, addressed the meeting of Ukrainian bishops with Pope Francis in the Vatican during the recent Synod's sessions.
This was reported by the UGCC Information Department.
"While listening to us, the Holy Father stated, 'I understand that you sometimes doubt whether the Pope stands with you. I assure you that I am with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,'" conveyed His Beatitude Sviatoslav, quoting the Pontiff.
According to him, each bishop had the opportunity to express their views to the Pope.
"We felt," emphasized the Head of the UGCC, "that the global community's attention was focused on our activities here in Rome. Journalists, politicians, and public figures sought to hear the voice of the Ukrainian Church. We engaged with leaders within the Catholic Church, not only within the Roman Curia but also worldwide. Standing before His Holiness Pope Francis, each of our bishops could address him on behalf of their people, their eparchy, and their constituents. Now, we return home filled with hope, confident that the Universal Church supports the Ukrainian people."
As His Beatitude Sviatoslav pointed out, during their conversation with Pope Francis, the participants of the UGCC Synod clarified that Russian culture has now become a proponent of the "Russian world."
"It is essential to emphasize that, while conversing with us, he acknowledged and rectified various misunderstandings related to his earlier statements. The Bishop of Rome attentively listened to the concerns and disappointments expressed by our hierarchs. We provided a clear and distinct explanation that the myth of a great Russian culture has transformed into an ideology of the 'Russian world,' a term modern scholars now describe as 'Rashism,'" stated the Head of the UGCC.
As reported by the Head of the UGCC, Pope Francis commented on contemporary ideologies, stating, "It is a tragedy when a great culture undergoes distillation through manipulation by secular, state power, and becomes an ideology that destroys. And when this ideology infiltrates the Church, it is a significant tragedy for the Christians of our time."
"Therefore, today we affirm that our bishops have fulfilled their mission and are returning to their communities to continue praying and working for the glory of God and the well-being of the Ukrainian people," concluded the Primate.