Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV extended a heartfelt message of solidarity and spiritual encouragement to the members of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) during a special audience held on Monday in Rome. As Ukraine continues to grapple with the devastation of war, the Holy Father urged the bishops to remain steadfast in faith, unity, and the mission of hope.
The Synod, presided over by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Father and Head of the UGCC, brings together all bishops of the Church in its highest decision-making body. This yearâs gathering occurs within the wider context of the Jubilee Year, a sacred time of spiritual renewal and hope for the global Church.
Acknowledging the tragic backdrop of war, Pope Leo recognized the emotional weight carried by bishops ministering daily to communities devastated by violence and grief. âIt is profoundly painful,â he said, âto find words of consolation for those who have lost loved ones in this senseless conflict. You walk closely with people whose hearts and bodies bear deep wounds.â
Yet, he affirmed that the resilience and unwavering faith demonstrated by so many in Ukraine shine as powerful evidence of Godâs enduring presence, even amid the destruction. âThese living testimonies,â the Pope noted, âare signs of divine strength rising from the ruins.â
Pope Leo reminded the bishops of their sacred vocation: to see Christ in every wounded soul, and to respond with concrete, compassionate action. âWherever someone turns to your communities in pain and need, your first duty is to serve Christ in them,â he said.
He also emphasized the importance of spiritual communion a bond that unites all believers, living and departed in a profound mystery of faith. âEven those whose lives have been violently cut short remain part of this great communion,â he affirmed. âIn God, everything continues to live, everything finds meaning.â
Encouraging the Ukrainian Greek Catholic faithful to stay united in one faith and one hope, Pope Leo spoke of the Church as a source of both comfort and moral courage in times of hardship. He urged the bishops to foster a spirit of solidarity, not only within their Church but across the universal Church, as a witness to the power of hope.
He concluded with a fervent invocation to the Holy Mother of God, praying that her intercession may bring about an end to the war and the return of peace to Ukraine without delay.
âLet us walk together as a single people of God,â Pope Leo said, âtrusting that love and hope, even when surrounded by suffering, will have the final word.â