UGCC Synod makes a statement regarding the Pope's call to Ukraine
Sviatoslav Shevchuk kisses the hand of Pope Francis. Photo: Vatican news
On March 10, 2024, the UGCC Synod published a "Paper on Recent Statements by Pope Francis", signed by Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Borys Hudziak, and other hierarchs of the Uniate Church. The statement text is published on the official website of the UGCC.
The text indicates that the pontiff's words should be seen as a call for negotiations, rather than for Ukraine's capitulation. The UGCC synodals then stated that they do not want to "dwell on the words of the Pope" and seek to "reiterate the positions of the victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
The statement claims that the capitulation of Ukrainians "will mean their death". The UGCC bishops believe that Putin and the Russian army seek to "destroy and kill" Ukrainians. The text also states that "any Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory leads to the destruction of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, any independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church."
"Despite proposals for negotiations by representatives of various states, including His Holiness, Ukrainians will continue to defend freedom and dignity in the struggle for a sustainable and just peace for their country and the world," the statement said.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Pope called on Ukraine to raise the white flag.
Read also
Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.
Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal
In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.
Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary
Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.
Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery
An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.
Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey
The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.