Piotr Kowalczuk
Meeting with the Pope
Upon arriving in Rome, the hierarch participated in a general audience. Asked about his meeting with Leo XIV, Cardinal Bychok revealed that he had given the Pope a crucifix and a Ukrainian flag belonging to one of the soldiers, who had asked for them to be given to the Holy Father as a sign of gratitude for everything the Pope and the Holy See are doing for Ukraine, but also as an appeal for the continued proclamation of the truth about who is the aggressor and who is the victim of this war. Cardinal Bychok emphasized that the gesture was a request for the Holy See to continue to stand with the victims, the wounded, prisoners of war, and missing persons.
The experience of war as a gift to the Church
Referring to the consistory, Cardinal Bychok noted that one of its topics would be the situation of Churches living in conditions of war and conflict. As he emphasized, the Ukrainian Church brings to this reflection a unique experience gained during the Russian aggression, ongoing since 2014, and especially since the start of the full-scale invasion: “Our Church did not leave people alone. In Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and many other places, especially in frontline areas, it helped not only spiritually, but also materially and socially. The most important thing was to be with people and accompany them,” he said. He added that the Church also helped people who had lost documents, homes, and livelihoods, becoming for them not only spiritual support but also a place of concrete assistance.
Healing the wounds of war
The Cardinal noted that the war also affected clergy and consecrated persons. Therefore, programs are being developed to help priests and religious process their own experiences of trauma, so that they can more effectively accompany the faithful: “Ukraine has enormous experience. After the war ends, it will be even greater, because new wounds and new challenges will emerge. However, we are not alone – the entire Catholic Church is with us. This gives hope that we will be able to respond to all challenges.”
The voice of Ukraine in Australia
Cardinal Bychok also referred to his ministry in Australia. He admitted that the cardinal nomination was a great surprise for him, but it opened new opportunities to speak about the situation in Ukraine. As he noted, he is regularly invited to conferences, debates, and meetings, during which he reminds people of the tragedy of the war. He mentioned, among others, a joint panel with a cardinal from Myanmar, during which both shared the experiences of Churches living in the shadow of armed conflicts. He also emphasized that Australian society shows great solidarity with Ukraine, as evidenced by successive aid packages announced by the local government and constant support shown to the Ukrainian nation.
