Metropolitan Borys Gudziak participated in the Pennsylvania Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting
Metropolitan Borys Gudziak addressed the Committee on International Justice & Peace of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on May 7, 2024, sharing insights into Ukraine’s challenging situation. As one of the committee’s bishops-consultants, he expressed deep gratitude for the steadfast support from the US Catholic bishops.
“There’s an incredible, I would say, an otherworldly spiritual solidarity in the country. And that’s why the solidarity of people of goodwill, prayer, advocacy are so important,” emphasized Metropolitan Gudziak, recognizing the Bishops’ Conference’s role in supporting Ukraine.
Reflecting on Ukrainians’ resilience, he stressed the importance of defending their dignity. “It is very impressive to see how people are defending their God-given dignity. There’s fear, there’s great trauma, there’s profound exhaustion, there are many tears. But there also is truth and the willingness to sacrifice for it,” he remarked.
Metropolitan Gudziak warned about the global implications of Russian aggression on international law and diplomacy. “The fact that Russia wanted to violate international law and conquer an independent country makes it very dangerous for international law. And if Ukraine falls, the results for international diplomacy, relations, etc., will be devastating,” he cautioned.
Additionally, he highlighted the atrocities of Russian occupation, stating, “Since Ukrainians have seen what happens in occupied territories just in the last two years, they understand that Russian occupation is genocide. And for the Catholic Church, it’s elimination. So the resolve in Ukraine, even despite the exhaustion, the great losses, remains strong.”
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