Cardinal Marcello Semeraro: “The Beatification Process of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Has Entered Its Final Stage”
On Tuesday, July 8, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, attended a meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In his address to the bishops, he spoke about the current status of the beatification process of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and shared his reflections on the role of saints in the life of the Church.
Cardinal Semeraro announced that the beatification of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky has entered its final stages: “We are awaiting, but I have been assured that the final documentation is already being printed. As soon as it is dispatched, we will forward it to experts for review. And if any clarifications are needed, we will certainly provide them. However, we are already in the final stage, as we were just expecting this documentation.”
He also emphasized that the lives of saints and martyrs serve as a profound source of inspiration and courage for the entire Church, especially in difficult times. “We ask ourselves the same question that a saint of the West once asked himself: ‘If they did it, if they were witnesses even unto giving their lives, why can’t I perform the same?’ And we need these examples, this encouragement,” he said.
The cardinal expressed his joy that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, despite many challenges, continues to look forward and bear witness to holiness. “It is very uplifting to have the opportunity to convey thoughts not only on the figures who are in the process of being declared saints, but also on the efforts to show that it is through the saints that the Church shows the world that it is a holy Church,” he added.
Background
The beatification process of the Righteous Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky (1865–1944) officially began on December 5, 1958—fourteen years after his death on November 1, 1944. As of July 2025, it is the longest-running beatification cause in the history of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, lasting more than 66 years.
The process was initiated by Patriarch Yosyf Slipyj, who personally witnessed the life and work of Metropolitan Andrey. His presence in the Vatican and firm advocacy played a decisive role in reviving and continuing the process, which had been suspended twice due to unfavorable political circumstances. Notably, the cause was launched during the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, who, according testimonies, personally knew Metropolitan Sheptytsky.
For many years, Bishop Mykhail Hrynchyshyn, the postulator for the UGCC, made a significant contribution to the cause, working devotedly on it for nearly 55 years. Since 2008, the role has been carried forward by Fr. Andrian Knyzh, appointed by Archbishop Ihor Vozniak of Lviv.
The prolonged duration of the process can be attributed to several factors. Most notably, the persecution of the UGCC during the Soviet era made it impossible to collect and transfer the required documents to the Vatican. As a result, the eparchial phase of the cause took place not in Ukraine, but in Rome.
Today, the beatification process is in its Roman phase. A major milestone was reached with the recognition of Metropolitan Sheptytsky’s heroic virtues, culminating in a decree signed by Pope Francis on July 16, 2015. This formally bestowed on him the title “Righteous,” acknowledging his exemplary Christian life marked by faith, hope, and love.
The miracle required for beatification is currently under investigation. According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, a miraculous healing of a child in the United States—attributed to the intercession of Metropolitan Sheptytsky—has already been recorded and canonically documented. Medical experts are currently reviewing the case to assess whether the healing has a scientific explanation.
The completion of this beatification process holds great significance for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the global Ukrainian community. The beatification of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky would be a momentous event for the identity and historical legacy of both the UGCC and Ukraine.
Secretariat of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome
