Ukraine gifts the Pope with Easter breads and lamb cakes

Easter cakes with paschal lambs. Photo: Facebook

On April 2, 2026, representatives of Ukraine’s embassy to the Holy See delivered Easter kulichi from Lviv to the Vatican. Ambassador Andrii Yurash and his wife, Diana, congratulated Pope Leo XIV and members of the Holy See staff on the approaching Feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. In 2026, the Catholic world celebrates Easter on April 5.

Diana Yurash, the ambassador’s wife, described the gift as a presentation of Ukraine’s spiritual culture and tradition. The gesture became one of the first Easter greetings offered to Pope Leo XIV after his election to the papal throne in May 2025.

The festive breads were made by artisans according to a classic recipe with candied fruit and vanilla. The kulichi were decorated with baked figures of birds and doves. The diplomats also added Easter lamb figurines to the праздничная basket, describing them as traditional in Western Ukraine. Diana Yurash explained that these symbols of innocence and purity signify the triumph of life over death.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Pope had congratulated the new Archbishopess of England on taking office.

In Odessa, the pagan holiday of Kupala was celebrated on the seashore

An ethno-festival 'Kupala Night' was held on the inclusive beach in Odessa.

Зеленський: Я – не князь Владимир, а Навроцький – не корольWait, I need to translate to English, not Ukrainian. Let me provide the correct translation:Zelensky: I am not Prince Vladimir, and Navrotsky is not a king

Zelensky tried to play on the Polish president's name, hinting at the word "king" (korol), but made a mistake: the name Karol does not derive from the word "king," but from the Germanic Karl.

A march was held in Macedonia in defense of the family and the Christian upbringing of children

In the city of Bitola, thousands of believers took part in a march to defend the right of young people to live according to the norms of the Orthodox faith.

Lavra strike sparked my fury, we will bring war back to “Rashka” – Zelensky

The Ukrainian president said the Russian strike on the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra made him furious and promised to “bring the war back” to Russian territory.

Глава УГКЦ: Нас с Польшей разделяют не сами факты борьбы УПА, а мифы о нейHead of the UGCC: What divides us from Poland is not the facts of the UPA's struggle themselves, but the myths about it

Sviatoslav Shevchuk called for a return to the papal formula of reconciliation "we forgive and ask for forgiveness" and urged not to leave the topic of Polish-Ukrainian dialogue in the hands of politicians.

RCC priest killed in Sudan after reporting theft of medicine for the poor

A Catholic parish priest in the Nuba Mountains was killed by militants after reporting the theft of medicines.