Synod of the "independent" UGCC holds its sessions in the Vatican
The Pope and UGCC Synod members. Photo: vaticannews.va
On July 2, 2025, Pope Leo met with the bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (including some cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church), according to vaticannews.va.
As the pontiff told the UGCC bishops, their synodal session in Rome is taking place as part of the Jubilee Year dedicated to the virtue of hope.
At the same time, the Pope admitted that speaking about hope in the Ukrainian context today is not easy: “It is not easy to find words of comfort for families who have lost their loved ones in this senseless war.”
Nevertheless, he emphasized, it is precisely in these difficult circumstances that he receives from the Ukrainian people “testimonies of faith and hope” that “bear witness to God’s power.”
Pope Leo called on the UGCC hierarchs to preserve unity in faith and hope, noting: “Our communion is a great mystery: it is real communion also with brothers and sisters whose earthly lives have been taken but who are received by God. In Him everything lives and everything finds its fullness of meaning.”
The meeting with the Pope concluded, at his initiative, with the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father”) recited in Ukrainian.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the UGCC is a patriarchate that is not yet recognized, and that the Vatican simply “needs to get used to the Uniate patriarchate.”
Read also
DESS head: Revival of Judaism in Ukraine is a true miracle
Viktor Yelensky opened a school for Jewish boys in Anativka.
Metropolitan Onuphry shares how Saint Nicholas leads people to faith
In his sermon on the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas, the Primate of the UOC gave an example of a Soviet family that turned to the saint in despair and found faith.
Priest of Pokrovsk Vicariate of UOC killed in Kostiantynivka shelling
Archpriest Valeriy Voskresensky consciously remained at his parish in the Donetsk region, despite the constant threat of shelling.
Verkhovna Rada to consider bill on pornography decriminalization
The bill on decriminalizing pornography proposes to remove criminal liability for the production and distribution of pornography between adults.
Metropolitan Onuphry leads Liturgy at Intercession Monastery of Kyiv
On the Feast of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Primate of the UOC celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas's Cathedral of the Intercession Monastery and offered prayers for peace in the Ukrainian land.
Persecuted community of Verkhni Stanivtsi celebrates archpastoral Liturgy
For the second year in a row, the parishioners have been celebrating their patronal feast day outside the walls of their church, which was seized by OCU supporters with police backing in April 2025.