The Head of the UGCC congratulated the newly elected Major Archbishop of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church
His Beatitude Sviatoslav sent a congratulatory letter to His Beatitude Claudiu-Lucian Pop, the newly elected Major Archbishop of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia, the Father and Head of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church. In it, he rendered thanks for that’s Church’s solidarity with Ukraine and emphasizing the long-standing fraternal ties between the two Churches.
In his letter, the Head of the UGCC emphasized that this election is an expression of “profound and well-deserved trust” on the part of the Synod of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church.
“Your election is a sign of profound and well-deserved trust on the part of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, which recognized your generous pastoral experience and life dedicated to the service of the Church,” the greeting reads.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized the deep spiritual unity between the Ukrainian and Romanian Greek Catholic Churches:
“Our sister Churches are united by a deep communion of faith, founded on the Rock of the Apostle Peter. Over the years, we have borne witness to the light of the Gospel together, both in the darkest times of communist persecution and today, when the world is particularly in need of hope,” — said the Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude expressed particular gratitude for Romanian Greek Catholics’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people during the current full-scale war:
“The Romanian Greek Catholic Church has provided authentic brotherly support, in particular by accepting Ukrainian refugees and through generous humanitarian aid. For us, this testimony of mercy is a concrete sign of the evangelical brotherhood, which constitutes a bond between our peoples and the Church,” — His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized.
The Head of the UGCC expressed confidence that fruitful cooperation and inter-church dialogue will continue: “I am convinced that under your leadership we will continue to deepen our common witness of faith and service to everyone in Christian love.” His Beatitude Sviatoslav concluded with the following good wishes: “May the Lord bless your new ministry and strengthen you with grace and strength to lead the people of God entrusted to you.”
Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome
