UGCC Synod makes a statement regarding the Pope's call to Ukraine

Sviatoslav Shevchuk kisses the hand of Pope Francis. Photo: Vatican news

On March 10, 2024, the UGCC Synod published a "Paper on Recent Statements by Pope Francis", signed by Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Borys Hudziak, and other hierarchs of the Uniate Church. The statement text is published on the official website of the UGCC.

The text indicates that the pontiff's words should be seen as a call for negotiations, rather than for Ukraine's capitulation. The UGCC synodals then stated that they do not want to "dwell on the words of the Pope" and seek to "reiterate the positions of the victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

The statement claims that the capitulation of Ukrainians "will mean their death". The UGCC bishops believe that Putin and the Russian army seek to "destroy and kill" Ukrainians. The text also states that "any Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory leads to the destruction of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, any independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

"Despite proposals for negotiations by representatives of various states, including His Holiness, Ukrainians will continue to defend freedom and dignity in the struggle for a sustainable and just peace for their country and the world," the statement said.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Pope called on Ukraine to raise the white flag.

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