Sviatoslav Shevchuk: We want to be a catalyst for ecumenism

Sviatoslav Shevchuk during a meeting with journalists in the conference hall of the Vatican. Photo: Vatican News

The head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk during a press conference in the conference hall of the Vatican Radio, following the meeting with the Pope, said that the UGCC wants to be a "catalyst for ecumenism", reports “Vatican News”.

According to the agency, Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that "today Ukraine has even more reasons to be called the laboratory of ecumenism".  According to him, sociological research data on the religious situation in Ukraine shows that 70% of residents consider themselves as Orthodox.

He recalled that in 2015 the UGCC adopted a document on the “Ecumenical Mission”, which formed the basis for the report of Cardinal Kurt Koch, Chairman of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and the corresponding discussion at this meeting.

The head of the UGCC stressed that "we want to be not an obstacle but a catalyst for ecumenism", adding that ecumenism is "part of the identity of the Eastern Catholic Church".

Also, at a meeting with journalists, Sviatoslav Shevchuk stressed that "the Pope wants our (Church – Ed.) like other Eastern Catholic Churches to develop and flourish".

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that representatives of the UGCC supported the bestowal of the Tomos for the sake of the unity of all Christian Churches, but in order to unite with the OCU, the new church structure must recognize the supremacy of Rome.

Read also