Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV welcomed Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, at the Vatican on Thursday, in a meeting marked by prayer, appeals for peace and concern for prisoners of war.
During the audience, Archbishop Shevchuk thanked the Pope for his closeness to the Ukrainian people and for the Holy See’s continued humanitarian and diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace. He also expressed gratitude for Vatican support in efforts to save lives since the start of the full scale war.
The archbishop presented the Pope with a list of prisoners and missing persons, compiled from families seeking news of their loved ones. He said the Church continues to work with civil society and international partners to advocate for detainees and those unaccounted for.
The meeting also highlighted recent humanitarian aid sent through the Apostolic Almoner’s Office, including 80 power generators delivered to communities struggling through severe winter conditions caused by the war.
Archbishop Shevchuk spoke about the life and mission of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, describing it as rooted in the Christian tradition of Kyiv but global in its outreach. He emphasized that the Church serves people worldwide and remains in full communion with Pope while proclaiming the Gospel to all.
At the end of the meeting, the archbishop renewed his invitation for Pope to visit Ukraine and presented a ceramic sculpture titled The Dove of Peace in Time of War by Italian artist Luciano Capriotti. The artwork shows a dove struck by a fragment from a missile attack on Kharkiv. Though wounded, the bird remains alive, symbolizing a nation scarred by war but still enduring.
He asked the Pope to bless the Ukrainian people, and Pope Leo assured him of his constant prayers for Ukraine.
This was the second private audience between the two leaders since Pope Leo XIV’s election. Their first meeting took place on May 15, 2025, when Archbishop Shevchuk presented a list of 500 prisoners and a painting dedicated to children lost because of the war. They also met again on June 28 in Saint Peter’s Basilica during the Jubilee pilgrimage of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.