Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin visits Ukraine

From Friday, 19 July, to Wednesday, 24 July, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, accompanied by Reverend Monsignor Paul Butnaru, Official of the Secretariat of State, travelled to Ukraine, as the Pontifical Legate, for the conclusion of the national pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Berdychiv and for the elevation of said Shrine to the rank of minor Basilica.

On 19 July, the Vatican Delegation was welcomed at the airport in Rzeszów (Poland) by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, His Excellency Monsignor Visvaldas Kulbokas; by the Archbishop of Przemyśl, His Excellency Monsignor Adam Szal; and by a number of local Authorities, before heading towards Ukraine. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See, His Excellency Mr Andriy Yurash, awaited them at the Polish-Ukrainian border and accompanied them on the journey to Kyiv.

During the brief stop at the residence of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lviv of the Latins, His Excellency Monsignor Mieczysław Mokrzycki, Cardinal Parolin met with the Governor of the region of Lviv, Mr Maksym Kozytskyi, and the city mayor, Mr Andriy Sadovyy. The meeting was followed by a moment of prayer in the chapel for victims of the war and for the intention for peace, and by a short conversation about the situation in the region and the conflict’s impact on the population. In the late evening, the Vatican Delegation arrived at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kyiv.

Saturday, 20 July was dedicated to visiting Odessa, one of the country’s symbolic cities struck by the bombardments. The first of four legs of the visit took place at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, where the Cardinal was welcomed by His Excellency Monsignor Stanislav Shyrokoradiuk, o.f.m. ; by some members of the clergy; by a group of faithful; and by representatives of the local Greek-Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Cardinal conveyed the Holy Father Francis’ closeness to all and gave them his blessing, praying the Angelus Domini with them and lighting a candle for the victims of the war.

The second stop was the city’s commercial port, where the Secretary of State was able to see the marks left by the Russian bombardments that struck it. The head of the Regional State Administration, Mr Oleg Kiper, welcomed him, and he explained the crucial importance of the port of Odessa for the entire country’s economy, the disastrous consequences of the aerial attacks on grain exports, and the persistent challenge of safely carrying out said activity.

Then the Delegation travelled to the Orthodox Cathedral of the Transfiguration, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was struck by a bomb on 23 July 2023. Auxiliary Bishop Viktor, on behalf of Metropolitan Agafangel, recounted the events, pointing out the various parts of the sacred building that were destroyed and the ongoing reparation works.

Lastly was a stop at the Greek-Catholic parish of Saint Michael the Archangel, in the city’s outskirts, where Cardinal Parolin met with Father Oleksandr Smerechynskyy, Chaplain of the Work of the Maritime Apostolate; the parish priest; other priests; and a group of faithful. They expressed their gratitude for the Holy Father’s constant and tangible closeness to the Ukrainian people, and they thanked their guest for the hope-bringing visit. After the prayer to the Archangel Michael, the Secretary of State individually greeted those present, listening to some testimonies about the assistance offered to refugees and about the community’s daily activity.

Sunday 21 July was dedicated to the key event of the visit, the concluding celebration of the annual national pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Berdychiv, in which numerous bishops, priests, civil authorities and members of the diplomatic corps participated. Cardinal Parolin presided over the solemn Eucharistic celebration and gave the homily, during which he noted that nothing is impossible for God, even things that seem impossible to human beings, and, with this certainty, he invited those present to pray for peace, invoking the intercession of the Virgin of Carmel for the conversion of hearts. After Holy Mass, he spent some time with the pilgrims, individually greeting many of them.

In the evening, upon returning to Kyiv, the Cardinal paid a visit to His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč, at the Greek-Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection. The head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church shared the most significant moments of the war that affected the temple and the parish community, the bombardments that took place in the immediate vicinity and the hospitality offered to the area’s citizens from the first days of the invasion, in the spaces beneath the Cathedral, which were transformed into a real bomb shelter. There were moments of prayer and listening to a few Byzantine hymns, as well as a moment before the tomb of the Major Archbishop, Cardinal Liubomyr Husar.

On Monday, 22 July, Cardinal Parolin participated in a series of institutional meetings that began with a meeting with Prime Minister H.S. Denys Shmyhal. He then met with the Speaker of Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, H.E. Ruslan Stefanchuk. This was followed by a meeting with the Head of the parliamentary group for friendship between Ukraine and the Holy See, Hon. Rostyslav Tistyk, and then by an afternoon meeting with Mr. Viktor Yelensky, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience. During the talks, gratitude was expressed for the Cardinal’s visit and for the Holy Father’s constant commitment to humanitarian issues and fostering peace. In addition to encouraging just avenues of peace and reaffirming the Holy See’s availability in this regard, Cardinal Parolin raised some issues related to religious freedom and the activities of the Catholic Church in Ukraine in the current complex situation.

Later in the afternoon, Cardinal Parolin visited the Catholic Church, Saint Nicholas, a historical building which has yet to be returned. In a brief but intense pastoral moment, he prayed for peace with the faithful and ensured them that the Holy Father knows about their situation and is closely following it in expectation of a hoped-for solution.

The day ended with a meeting between the Secretary of State and the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations at the Apostolic Nunciature. During the fraternal dialogue, each of the participants expressed their profound gratitude for what the Holy Father and the Holy See have done and are doing for the Ukrainian people, but also their deep concern especially that the Ukrainian people could be forgotten or left alone. Cardinal Parolin reassured them that their requests would be considered and that the efforts carried out thus far will be boosted in order to meet the necessities he observed during the visit.

On Tuesday, 23 July, the Secretary of State visited Ukraine’s largest paediatric hospital, Okhmatdyt, which was bombed on 8 July. Accompanied by the hospital’s Director General, Mr. Volodymyr Zhovnir, and by Health Minister Mr. Viktor Liashko, he was able to ascertain the magnitude of the missile attack and the enormous damages it caused: a recent and very painful wound. A particularly moving moment was the encounter with some young patients and with medical staff to whom he conveyed the Holy Father’s closeness and support.

Cardinal Parolin then went to the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, a symbol of the Ukrainian people’s identity and of their resistance throughout history, where a guided visit revealed the artistic value of the UNESCO world heritage-listed monument. With the Hail Holy Queen hymn, the Delegation renewed its invocation for peace in Ukraine.

The visit to Kyiv ended with a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Cardinal Parolin received the Order of Merit he had been awarded on 30 December 2023, for his significant contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two states and for his support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and the integrity of its territory. Ahead of the award ceremony, the two leaders met in a cordial climate and reflected on potential avenues for peace, to which the Holy See remains committed, and on issues related more directly with religious confessions in the current war situation.

In the afternoon, the Secretary of State left Kyiv, headed for Poland, stopping again in Lviv, where he met two Greek Catholic Redemptorist priests, Ivan Levytsky and Bohdan Heleta, who were freed on 28 June 2024. During the fraternal conversation, Parolin asked about the conditions of their detention and their current situation, in particular with regards to their health. The two priests thanked the Holy Father and the Holy See for their tireless concern for their well-being.

The following day, Cardinal Parolin returned to the Vatican.