Roberto Paglialonga – Lviv
Sunny weather accompanied the start of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher’s mission in Ukraine, where he serves as a special papal envoy for the celebrations of the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of the Latin Rite Catholic Church. The ceremonies will take place on July 19 at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Berdychiv.
The visit is also an opportunity to commemorate the pilgrimage of St. John Paul II, who visited Ukraine in 2001.
The Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See arrived in Krakow on July 16, as Ukrainian airspace remains closed due to the ongoing war. He then traveled by car to Ukraine with the Apostolic Nuncio in Kyiv, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas. His mission will last until July 21.
In Lviv with Archbishop Mokrzycki
After crossing the border, the Vatican delegation was welcomed by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See, Andriy Yurash, and representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In Lviv, a city that has also been repeatedly targeted by Russian missile attacks, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher was received by the Latin Rite Metropolitan of Lviv, Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki. On Friday morning, he met with representatives of the Lviv Oblast and city authorities at the archdiocesan curia.
“A just end to the war means restoring peace in this part of Europe,” said the representative of the Holy See. He also added that the Church and Pope Leo XIV “do not forget the suffering of the Ukrainian people and their sacrifices. We must create the right conditions for a just peace.”
Precisely at 9:00 AM, a moment of prayer and silence dedicated to the victims of the war took place in the curia chapel.
At the same time, employees, pupils, students, and residents across the country interrupt their activities – getting out of cars or pausing their tasks for a minute – to silently pay tribute to the victims of the war.
Visit to the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher then visited the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, where approximately 30,000 people study – both on-site and remotely.
The campus also features special shelters where not only students and university staff but also residents of nearby districts can find refuge in case of an attack.
Although the university buildings were not directly hit, they have repeatedly suffered from Russian bombardments in their immediate vicinity. Two years ago, a missile landed just a few hundred meters from the campus, causing the death of seven or eight people. In total, the war has claimed the lives of about forty people associated with the university, including students and their family members.
“The war is here,” emphasized the university president, Greek Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak, during the meeting, welcoming Archbishop Gallagher.
One of the university’s important areas of activity is direct assistance to people with disabilities, who are an integral part of the academic community. The Vatican delegation met with them and listened to their stories presented by Sister Maria Radist, responsible for the formation program of the University College.
– “Everyone here is involved in providing help and support. Students who come to us receive a comprehensive education, which also includes the ability to selflessly give of themselves for others,” concluded Archbishop Gudziak.
Meeting with Archbishop Shevchuk in Kyiv
In the evening, after a brief stop at the St. John Paul II Church in Rivne, the Secretary for Relations with States arrived at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kyiv.
There, his meeting with the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of Kyiv-Halych, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, was planned.
