Zelensky reacts to Pope's words defending the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Pope Francis and Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Vatican Media
On August 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the statements made by Pope Francis, who expressed concern over the Ukrainian law 8371, which could potentially ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
Zelensky emphasized the importance of the information space and its impact on religious institutions, including the Vatican. "The Vatican is not an exception. The statements of Pope Francis have varied. It is very important not to lose touch with either the Vatican or Italy," he noted at a press conference following the "Ukraine 2024. Independence" forum.
Discussing the necessity of fighting for a truthful information space, Zelensky added: "As soon as you pause in your informational efforts, everything gets filled with information from Russia. They work like clockwork in this regard… The Church operates strongly for them abroad."
As reported by the UOJ, on August 25, Pope Francis expressed concern that believers in Ukraine are allegedly not being given the opportunity to pray "in the church they consider their own".
Read also
Clergy and faithful of Nizhyn Eparchy donate blood for wounded soldiers
Metropolitan Clement, priests, nuns, and UOC parishioners took part in the blood-donation drive at the Nizhyn District Hospital.
Phanar hierarch: Encounting head of Montenegro's schismatics is accidental
The Archbishop of Finland stated that his meeting with the head of the "Montenegrin Orthodox Church" was "brief".
New head of Lavra Reserve lets Dumenko into Near Caves
Maksym Ostapenko allowed Epifaniy Dumenko and his associates into the Near Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Khmelnytskyi RMA legalizes “transfer” of UOC church to OCU in Kuzmyn
The regional authorities carried out the re-registration of the community despite protests by parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Warming stations opened in UOC churches in Kyiv for capital’s residents
By the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, UOC parishes in Kyiv have organized assistance points for the city’s residents during the freezing days.
Amsterdam: Ukraine and Armenia use Bolshevik methods to destroy the Church
The lawyer said that under the pretext of an “anti-Russian stance”, the governments of Zelenskyy and Pashinyan are employing undemocratic methods against the Church.