Meeting and statements by Pope Francis and Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Pope Francis received in private audience the Permanent Synod of the sui juris Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on March 5, 2016. Shortly after the audience, the Permanent Synod issued a statement affirming the communion of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church with the Holy See and the Universal Catholic Church. The Most Reverend Ken Nowakowski, Ukrainian Eparchial Bishop of the Eparchy of New Westminster, B.C., is a member of the Permanent Synod.

On March 7, the Holy Father issued also a letter of thanks and gratitude to His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevhchuk, Major Archbishop of Kiev and of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In his letter, Pope Francis also renewed his “solidarity with the Pastors and faithful” of the Church in Ukraine.

–Link to the statement issued by the Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church 

–Link to the news report by Vatican Radio on the statement (in French only)

–Link to the interview of Major Archbishop Sviatoslav by Vatican Radio 

–Link to the news report by Vatican Radio and English translation of the letter from the Holy Father

–Link to the news report by Vatican Radio on the letter of the Holy Father (in French only)