On 28 January 2018 in Rome, Italy, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij extended greetings on behalf of the UWC and the 20-million strong Ukrainian diaspora to His Holiness Pope Francis during his visit to St. Sofia Ukrainian Greek Catholic Sobor.
In his address to the local Ukrainian community and thousands of faithful the Holy Father empathized with their anguish for their homeland that is suffering from war, prayed for an end to the war in Ukraine and called to not lose faith.
During the visit of the Holy Father, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) presented the UWC President who sincerely thanked Pope Francis for the prayers for Ukraine and the humanitarian aid provided the Ukrainian people, and also invited the Pope to visit Ukraine.
Before leaving St. Sofia Sobor the Holy Father descended into the crypt to pray at the tomb of Bishop Stefan Chmil, former rector of the Ukrainian Catholic seminary and a teacher of Pope Francis.
Joining Eugene Czolij at this event was Director of the UWC Mission to Ukraine Serhiy Kasyanchuk.
“The Ukrainian World Congress hopes that the Vatican will continue to support Ukraine, which is actively defending fundamental Christian values,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
Please view video of the visit by Pope Francis to St. Sofia Sobor HERE.
In the photo from left: E. Czolij, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) and His Holiness Pope Francis
Photo album courtesy of Vatican Media
