Yelensky: Pope’s visit to Ukraine led to two Maidans

Euromaidan. Photo: Ilya Varlamov

Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), has said that Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ukraine in 2001 was “a colossal step away from Moscow” and directly paved the way for the country’s two Maidans. This was reported by the DESS press service.

Yelensky made the remarks on June 16, 2026, during the presentation of a commemorative postage stamp at Kyiv’s St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Cathedral marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the papal visit. According to him, John Paul II made significant efforts to “pull Central and Eastern Europe out of the Yalta system” – the post-war division of spheres of influence established by the victorious Allied powers. The event was attended by representatives of the Office of the President, the OCU, and the UGCC.

By the “two Maidans,” Yelensky was referring to the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Euromaidan protests of 2013–2014.

John Paul II visited Ukraine on June 23–27, 2001. It was the first visit in history by the head of the Roman Catholic Church to a country with a predominantly Orthodox population. Speakers at the presentation also stressed that Ukraine is now “fully open” to another papal visit and that such an initiative would receive the full support of the Ukrainian authorities.

As the UOJ previously reported, the Lviv Regional Military Administration has called on President Zelensky to invite the Pope to Ukraine.

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