UOJ calls on the Pope to condemn persecution of UOC prisoners of conscience

The UOJ hopes that Pope Francis can influence Zelensky regarding the situation around the UOC. Photo: President’s Office website

In their letter to Pope Francis, the Union of Orthodox Journalists called on the Pontiff to assist in the release of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk and UOJ journalists. According to the UOJ, the Vatican has received the letter, though it was written before the journalists were released on bail.

"We ask you, Your Holiness, to help in the release of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk, UOC priest Serhiy Chertylin, and three Orthodox journalists from the UOJ, who were imprisoned on fabricated charges simply for telling the truth about the persecution of the UOC. Their names are Valeriy Stupnytsky, Andriy Ovcharenko, and Volodymyr Bobechko," the letter says.

The letter tells the Pontiff that all these individuals were jailed unjustly, and their cases are fabricated and entirely political.

The UOJ pointed out that the persecution of the clergy and journalists became possible in part due to the actions of Catholic Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytsky, who spreads disinformation about the UOC and is subordinated to the Pope.

The Union of Orthodox Journalists noted that the world is aware of the Pope's efforts to change the course of the modern world from violence and evil to mercy and love. "We ask you to urge the President of Ukraine to uphold the law and show mercy towards the prisoners of conscience," the letter states.

As a reminder, a letter from the UOJ about the actions of Catholic bishops in Ukraine was delivered to Pope Francis.

You can help the UOJ journalists with legal protection through the following details:

💳 Sberbank card number:
4441 1111 2797 9692

🔗 Link for convenient online transfers
https://send.monobank.ua/jar/41eXpJhMWN

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