Pope Leo XIV met with His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych and head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, at the Vatican. Archbishop Shevchuk thanked the Pope for the Holy See's solidarity, support, and diplomatic efforts concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine. During the audience, Shevchuk presented the Pope with a list of prisoners and a sculpture symbolizing peace. The Pope recently arranged for 80 power generators to be sent to the Ukrainian population facing harsh winter conditions due to the war. Shevchuk highlighted that the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church is both rooted in Kyiv's tradition and operates as a global entity.
22 days ago
Pope Leo XIV received Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, in the Vatican on February 13, 2026.1
The discussion focused on the Church's current situation, its global mission, and support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war.1
Shevchuk thanked the Pope for solidarity with Ukraine, including diplomatic efforts for a just peace.1
He highlighted the Holy See's role in saving lives since the war's start and aid during the harsh winter.1
Pope Leo recently sent 80 power generators to war-affected Ukrainians via the Apostolic Almoner’s Office.1
Shevchuk presented lists of prisoners and missing persons gathered from families.1
Shevchuk gifted a ceramic sculpture, "The Dove of Peace in Time of War," depicting a wounded dove from a missile strike in Kharkiv.1
He renewed an invitation for the Pope to visit Ukraine and requested blessings for its people; the Pope assured constant prayers.1
This was the second private audience since Leo XIV's election; the first occurred on May 15, 2025, with a list of 500 prisoners and a painting "Requiem."1
They also met on June 28, 2025, during Ukrainian pilgrims' Jubilee visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica.1
How does the Holy See support the Ukrainian Greek‑Catholic Church?
The Holy See has long supported the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC) through profound recognition of its historical union with Rome, dating back to the Union of Brest in 1596. Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter marking the fourth centenary, celebrated this event as opening "a new page in the history of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine," highlighting the Popes' careful and affectionate accompaniment during its "often tragic and sorrowful journey." He recalled Pope Pius XII's Encyclical Orientales omnes on the 350th anniversary and emphasized the UGCC's rebirth post-persecution, urging it to follow the path of the Second Vatican Council. This support manifests in reaffirming full communion with the Successor of Peter, as seen in Pope John Paul II's 2003 address to the UGCC's Permanent Synod, where he welcomed their gathering in Rome to express unity and encouraged rebuilding amid challenges, including dialogue with Latin-rite bishops. Similarly, during his 2001 pastoral visit to Ukraine, he praised the UGCC's martyrs like Metropolitan Andrii Sheptytsky and Cardinal Joseph Slipyj, embracing persecuted bishops and urging them to live as "trustworthy guides" in preserving faith. Pope Benedict XVI echoed this in 2006, commending the UGCC for keeping "sacred Tradition integrally alive" and assigning it a twofold mission: maintaining Eastern visibility in the Catholic Church and facilitating unity between Latin and Eastern streams. Post-visit, John Paul II thanked God for the UGCC's fidelity from St. Peter's tomb, encouraging communion between Eastern and Latin bishops for effective evangelization.
A core aspect of Holy See support involves nurturing the UGCC's distinct Eastern heritage within Catholicism. Pope John Paul II stressed that Ukraine embodies the Church "breathing with the two lungs" of Eastern and Western traditions, fostering an "ecclesial workshop" of unity in diversity through mutual enrichment of Byzantine mystery and Latin succinctness. In Orientale Lumen, he urged cooperation in diaspora lands, where Eastern Catholics live amid Latin majorities, calling Latin ordinaries to apply Holy See principles on ecumenical cooperation and Eastern pastoral care, while Eastern bishops promote brotherhood with non-united Churches of the same tradition. ROACO addresses (1997 and 2025) underscore this: John Paul II tasked the Congregation for Oriental Churches with promoting Eastern identity via research, liturgy, spirituality, history, and formation, ensuring Western appreciation of their contribution to catholicity. Pope Leo XIV recently highlighted the Eastern Churches' history of suffering, including "oppression and misunderstanding within the Catholic community itself," calling for aid amid wars as a "breath of oxygen" to these "precious and greatly afflicted" communities.
The Holy See bolsters the UGCC through Curial dicasteries focused on formation and aid. Praedicate Evangelium (Art. 161) mandates the Dicastery for Culture and Education to cooperate with Eastern hierarchical structures in developing ecclesiastical institutes, ensuring qualified higher education in sacred disciplines and recognizing degrees, while issuing nihil obstat for theology teachers and supporting clerical formation. Art. 79 establishes the Dicastery for the Service of Charity (Papal Almoner) for global aid in the Pope's name, prioritizing the poor. Art. 173 directs the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to partner with Holy See humanitarian agencies. ROACO exemplifies this, with John Paul II in 1997 urging support for seminarians and religious in Rome, fostering faith, prayer, and apostolic zeal. Amid crises, organizations like Bonifatiuswerk and SCIAF provided child welfare, construction, and transport aid to Ukrainian refugees.
Diplomatic ties, established in 1992, reinforce support, as noted in John Paul II's 1999 address to Ukraine's ambassador, linking back to Kievan Rus' Baptism and aiding national progress rooted in Christian values. Recent statements amid war emphasize humanitarian urgency: Archbishop Caccia invoked Pope Francis's calls for ceasefire, negotiations, family reunification, and support for refugees, with Cardinal Zuppi's peace missions. The Holy See decries war's devastation, urging diplomatic means for a just peace.
In summary, Holy See support for the UGCC encompasses spiritual communion, preservation of its Byzantine patrimony, institutional formation via dicasteries, aid through organizations like ROACO, and diplomatic-humanitarian advocacy—always aiming at unity, fidelity, and resilience amid trials.