Head of UGCC Meets with Prime Minister of Italy
On October 31, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head and Father of the UGCC, met with Prime Minister of the Italian government George Meloni at the Palazzo Gigi in Rome. The parties discussed support for Ukraine and combating the traumas of war. “Ukrainians are a historical example of unbreakable spirit and struggle for European values,” the head of the Italian government emphasized.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked Giorgi Meloni for his support of Ukraine and the humanitarian assistance that Italy provides to Ukrainian refugees not only in his country but also to internally displaced persons in Ukraine. “Italy has shown incredible hospitality and openness to our people. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 173 thousand refugees have arrived in your country, and we know that your government has adopted the necessary laws to accept our compatriots. Italy was one of the first countries to provide the necessary humanitarian aid, and your government continues to stand by Ukraine at the international level,” the Head of the UGCC emphasized.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav said that Ukrainian society is suffering from the traumas of war, and the UGCC has declared healing these traumas as its pastoral priority. The Prime Minister of Italy emphasized that Italy’s commitment to Ukraine is “our firm choice to uphold the just struggle of the Ukrainian people in defense of European values. Supporting Ukraine is in Italy’s national interest. By helping the Ukrainian people, we are creating the necessary conditions for a just peace; otherwise, Russia’s aggression could deny your people of peace and the right to freedom.”
During the conversation, the head of the Italian government emphasized the need to strengthen support for Ukraine amid the war in the Middle East, which she called “the daughter of the war in Ukraine.” “We need to work hard to ensure that international attention to Ukraine does not wane.” Giorgia Meloni also addressed the topic of Ukraine’s reconstruction, stressing that Italy is already actively involved in some projects to restore cultural sites in Odesa.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav described to the Prime Minister of Italy the ministry of the UGCC in times of war. The parties agreed to cooperate in the humanitarian sector and social and medical projects aimed at healing the wounds of war. The Head of the UGCC also pointed out some problems of Ukrainian migrants on the Apennine Peninsula, namely the forced resettlement of Ukrainian refugees from the North-Central regions of Italy to the South (the recent case in Florence). The parties agreed that such resettlements inflict further trauma on Ukrainian refugees and do not contribute to their integration into Italian society.
video and photos of the press service of the Prime Minister of Italy
