Cardinal Parolin visits the UOC Cathedral in Odesa damaged by Russia

Cardinal Parolin in the Odesa Cathedral of the UOC. Photo: Oleh Kiper

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited the Odesa region and inspected the Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC, destroyed as a result of the Russian attack, reports the head of the regional military administration Oleh Kiper.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel of Odesa and Izmail, Archbishop Viktor of Artsyzsk, together with Archpriest Myroslav, assistant rector of the cathedral, gave the distinguished guests exact copies of the Kasper Icon of the Mother of God and a facsimile edition of the Peresopnytsia Gospel.

The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expressed gratitude for the meeting, the gifts from Metropolitan Agafangel and wished for the speedy restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral.

“I hope that this visit, as well as previous ones, for example, the trip of Cardinal Zuppi (Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Bologna – Ed.), can make a small contribution to the creation of a peaceful path in this land. So once again I express my sincere gratitude to you. I wish you fortitude; in these difficult times we are by your side and share your pain, your hope,” he said after his visit to the UOC Cathedral.

This is the first visit of the Secretary of State of the Holy See to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war.

Before Odesa, Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited Lviv. Today he is participating in the RCC's ceremonial events in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region.

As reported by the UOJ, Cardinal Parolin stated in Ukraine that he will discuss peace with Zelensky.

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