Dumenko goes to visit the Pope to "strengthen cooperation"

Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: risu.ua

The head of the OCU, Epifaniy Dumenko, went to the Vatican for the first time as part of the delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations.

“These days I will be in Rome, in the Vatican, to testify about Russian aggression and our desire for victory and a just peace. We are grateful for the prayers and humanitarian assistance and look forward to strengthening cooperation,” the Metropolitan wrote on his Twitter.

According to the website of the OCU, Dumenko will take part in a meeting with Pope Francis and a number of leaders of the institutions of the Roman Catholic Church responsible for inter-Christian and inter-religious dialogue, interaction with Ukraine and dissemination of information.

Dumenko is accompanied on his trip by OCU spokesman Eustratiy Zoria.

The "hierarchs" will be present at the prayer that Pope Francis will perform in the Basilica of the Apostle Paul on the occasion of the "Week of Prayer for the Unity of Christians." The visitors will also meet with Andriy Yurash, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Vatican, and visit the Roman Cathedral of St Sophia of the UGCC.

As the UOJ wrote, the head of Ukrainian Greek Catholics Sviatoslav Shevchuk hopes for the unification of Orthodox and Catholics and joint ownership of churches and monasteries in Ukraine.

Read also