His Beatitude Sviatoslav: Caritas Norway Visit is a Sign of Hope for Ukrainians
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, hosted a delegation of the charitable organization Caritas Norway, led by Secretary General Ingrid Rosendorf Joys, at his residence in Kyiv on November 12, 2024. During the meeting, the Head of the UGCC thanked the people of Norway, in particular Catholics, for their support of Ukraine during the wartime and emphasized that the visit of Caritas is “a sign of hope that we have not been forgotten.”
“I am here primarily to observe how Caritas Ukraine is cooperating with Caritas Norway,” said the Secretary General of Caritas Norway, which has provided significant humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Ingrid Rosendorf Joys informed that during the current visit, the delegation will visit the frontline areas, including Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and other cities to assess the needs and continue providing assistance.
“Your presence and personal empathy for the Ukrainian people are incredibly important,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, “They are much more valuable than any material assistance. We sincerely thank you for your prayers, consideration and assistance. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the entire Norwegian people who support Ukraine, pray for us and for a just peace, for a speedy end to this senseless war.”
During the meeting, the parties discussed the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the biggest challenges ahead of the third winter of full-scale war. The Primate explained that most of the country’s energy infrastructure was destroyed as a result of Russian shelling, which is why “light would become a luxury” for many Ukrainians. He also underscored the scale of the humanitarian crisis: millions of Ukrainians are in a food and housing emergency, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to become internally displaced.
“In Ukraine, we are facing the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. We have to accept hundreds of thousands of new internally displaced persons and provide them with food and shelter. First and foremost, we must be human, and thus help those in need. The support of partners like Caritas Norway is extremely valuable to us. Without it, we would not be able to survive,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized.
Ingrid Rosendorf Joys
The Head of the UGCC briefed on the religious situation In Ukraine, emphasizing the Importance of cooperation between different Christian denominations to save lives. He also spoke about the openness of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to dialogue with other denominations and religions, highlighting the positive relations of the UGCC with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Mrs. Ingrid Rosendorf Joys conveyed greetings from the Catholics of Norway, in particular from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oslo, Bernt Ivar Eidsvig.
“It is so important to remember each other in prayer,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, “Prayer is the source of our hope, strength and resilience.”
