Head of the UGCC Addresses the General Assembly of the Commission of the EU Bishops’ Conferences
On November 9, in Brussels (Belgium), His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head and Father of the UGCC, spoke at a meeting of the General Assembly of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE). The Head of the UGCC described the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the pastoral challenges of “healing the trauma of war.”
Addressing the representatives of the EU bishops, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked them for their openness to Ukrainian migrants, “who number around 6 million in your countries,” and emphasized that the reconstruction of Ukraine largely depends on their return to their homeland. “The victory of Ukraine is not only in regaining our territories but first and foremost in the return of our people home.”
Among the main challenges of the coming winter, His Beatitude Sviatoslav named the food crisis, which “we can overcome only through international solidarity.” He called on the members of the COMECE to do their utmost to prevent the war in Ukraine from becoming a “forgotten war.”
In a discussion of what just peace means for Ukraine, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that the first condition for restoring just peace in Ukraine is Russia’s recognition of the Ukrainian people’s right to self-determination and entity in international relations. “We cannot negotiate with those who still deny our right to exist.” The Head of the UGCC emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine has a distinct genocidal dimension and reminded that “Ukraine’s European choice contradicts Russia’s neocolonial ambitions. This is the reason for the war.”
The Head of the UGCC asked the representatives of the EU Bishops’ Conferences to help Ukrainians integrate into their societies “while ensuring our faithful the right to pastoral care of their Mother Church.” His Beatitude Sviatoslav introduced Bishop Stepan Sus to the participants and spoke about the main tasks of the Pastoral Migration Department in the pastoral care of the faithful of the UGCC in those countries where there are no canonical structures.
The President of COMECE, Archbishop Mariano Crociata, thanked His Beatitude Sviatoslav for his exemplary pastoral ministry, which is admired by the entire Catholic world today and inspires us in our ministry.
COMECE is an organization that unites EU bishops in relations with EU institutions, monitoring EU legislation and policies in compliance with the social teachings of the Catholic Church. The 26 EU bishops’ conferences are members of COMECE. The organization’s secretariat is located in Brussels.
Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome
