Pope Francis meets with head of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church

By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Monday, met with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, in the Vatican.

Major Archbishop Shevchuk is visiting the Vatican for a week of meetings, to bring to Rome the cry of the Ukrainian people who have been battered by nine months of the war.

This is the first time that the Major Archbishop and the Holy Father will meet since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine. He is also scheduled to meet with leaders of the Roman Curia.

Major Archbishop Shevchuk began his week in Rome by presiding at the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Sts Sergius and Bacchus of the Ukrainians in Rome on Sunday. On Monday morning he meets with Pope Francis and during the week he will meet with dicasteries of the Roman Curia, to which he will report on the difficult situation in Ukraine.

On 14 November, he is scheduled to report on the situation in Ukraine to a select group of ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.

Since the start of the war on 24 February, Archbishop Shevchuk has sent a daily video message to the Ukrainian people, which is also broadcast in various languages across the world.

According to a statement, during his presence in Rome, the Archbishop seeks to bring the cry of the Ukrainian people to the heart of Christendom, with the hope of a just peace that will bring justice to the aggrieved Ukrainian people.