Head of the UGCC: Our Synod has made a decision and requested Holy Father to elevate German exarchate to eparchy
In September 2023, the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC in Rome decided to elevate the Apostolic Exarchate in Germany and the Scandinavian countries to the level of a diocese. This decision is now under consideration by the Apostolic See.
The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, said this on May 26, 2024, in Munich at the end of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Exarchate.
“We have submitted this decision to the consideration of His Holiness Pope Francis and now we wish to reaffirm it at the end of the activities of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC,” the Primate said.
“65 years of the exarchate is a bit too long,” said the Patriarch. “According to church law, an exarchate is the nucleus of a diocese. This is the first, temporary step. Eventually, the structure grows into a full-fledged diocese, where the bishop has all the necessary rights and competencies of a ruling bishop and is not a guest but a full member of the German Bishops’ Conference”.
According to the Head of the UGCC, the status of an exarchal structure no longer reflects the real state of the UGCC community in Germany and Scandinavia, which is actively developing. Today, there are 107 parishes and pastorates in these areas, served by 49 priests, 3 deacons and 7 sisters.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav appealed to all the Roman Catholic bishops of Germany to support the decision of the Synod of the UGCC. He also expressed hope that he would soon be able to return to Munich to participate in the enthronement of the first-ever UGCC eparch in Germany.
“Bishop Bohdan, I sincerely wish for you to become this historic first bishop of the future eparchy,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, addressing the current exarch.
The faithful greeted this news with thunderous applause.
“May the Lord God fulfill what we are asking for today, and may He recognize His people in heaven on these blessed lands,” the Primate wished.
The UGCC Department for Information
