Krzysztof Bronk – Vatican
The harshest winter in ten years
Archbishop Shevchuk celebrated the Eucharist yesterday in the patriarchal cathedral of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome. In his homily, he spoke about the dramatic situation in Kyiv. „During the harshest winter in ten years, large residential buildings in Kyiv, where three thousand families live, remain without water, electricity, and minimal means of subsistence”.
„If I overcome the cold, Ukraine will win”
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics also emphasized that he is a witness to the immense perseverance of his people. „Last Sunday, a five-year-old child shared with me their experience of living in Kyiv. I asked them: ‘Are you cold at home?’ And they replied: ‘If I overcome the cold, Ukraine will win'”.
These are the least of Christ’s brethren
„I can confirm today – added Archbishop Shevchuk – that this extraordinary resilience, this joy of people who face death every night, does not come from man, but is a gift of the Holy Spirit. And anyone who has even a minimal Christian sensibility understands that these people are the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters”.
New wave of solidarity with Ukraine
Archbishop Shevchuk admitted that the difficult humanitarian situation has become an impulse to increase humanitarian aid for Ukraine. „Today, a wave of true solidarity and Christian charity is growing. This charity is not just a manifestation of human philanthropy. It is true Christian service to God”. The Archbishop referred in this way to the Gospel of the Last Judgment read during the liturgy, in which, as he noted, „Jesus Christ does not identify with the most powerful of this world, but with the least”.
Thanks to Poles
In his weekly war message published on the same day, Archbishop Shevchuk particularly thanked the Poles. He referred to the collection already carried out in the Archdiocese of Krakow, as well as to initiatives undertaken in other dioceses. „We thank everyone who is saving lives in Ukraine today. It is thanks to international solidarity that our nation shows unwavering perseverance” – added Archbishop Shevchuk.
A crime against humanity and against God
In the same message, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics also stated that the Russian war against Ukraine „will go down in the history of humanity as sacrilege and one of the greatest crimes against humanity and crimes against God in the third millennium”.
