Pope Leo XIV Receives Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at Vatican
Pope Leo XIV received Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in a private audience at the Vatican on Thursday, reaffirming the Holy See’s continued spiritual and humanitarian concern for Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
During the meeting, Major Archbishop Shevchuk expressed gratitude for the Pope’s closeness to the Ukrainian people and for the solidarity demonstrated by the Holy See since the beginning of the full scale invasion. He thanked Pope Leo XIV for diplomatic and humanitarian efforts aimed at securing a just and lasting peace, as well as for initiatives focused on saving human lives.
In recent days, the Pope arranged through the Apostolic Almoner’s Office for the delivery of 80 power generators to communities facing severe winter conditions in Ukraine. The gesture was described as a concrete sign of support for civilians enduring hardship due to damage to critical infrastructure.
The discussion also addressed the present life and mission of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Major Archbishop Shevchuk highlighted that while the Church is rooted in the Christian tradition of Kyiv and shaped by Ukrainian history, it has a global presence across continents. He noted that the Church is open to proclaiming the Gospel to all peoples through its full communion with the Bishop of Rome.
As part of the encounter, the Major Archbishop presented the Pope with lists of prisoners and missing persons, received directly from families affected by the conflict. He reiterated appreciation for the Holy See’s sustained efforts to facilitate humanitarian initiatives aimed at securing the release of detainees and assisting those impacted by the war.
At the conclusion of the audience, Major Archbishop Shevchuk renewed an invitation for Pope Leo XIV to visit Ukraine. He also presented a ceramic sculpture titled The Dove of Peace in Time of War by Italian artist Luciano Capriotti. The artwork depicts a dove struck by a fragment from a missile launched at Kharkiv. Though wounded, the dove remains alive, symbolizing what the Archbishop described as a nation that is deeply scarred yet enduring.
The Pope assured Major Archbishop Shevchuk of his continued prayers for Ukraine and for all those suffering from the consequences of the conflict. The meeting marked the second private audience between the two since Pope Leo XIV’s election. Their first encounter took place in May 2025 at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, when the Archbishop presented a list of prisoners and a painting dedicated to children affected by the war. They also met again in Saint Peter’s Basilica during the Jubilee gathering of Ukrainian Greek Catholic pilgrims.
The audience underscored the ongoing relationship between the Holy See and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as efforts continue to address humanitarian concerns and promote peace.
