UGCC Head Meets with Charge d’Affaires of the Republic of Poland in Ukraine
On April 11, 2025, His Beatitude Sviatoslav met with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Poland in Ukraine, Mr. Piotr Leszek Łukasiewicz, at the residence of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Kyiv. He was accompanied by Jarosław Godun, Minister Counselor of the Embassy.
During the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav primarily expressed gratitude to the Polish people for their fraternal support of Ukrainians since the outbreak of the full-scale war: for their hospitality, openness, and care for those who sought refuge in Poland. In this context, he also recalled his recent visit to Poland, including his participation in an international conference in Poznań dedicated to the legacy of St. John Paul II, as well as a meeting with Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, to whom he conveyed his appreciation for the archbishop’s longstanding support for Ukraine, especially during the war.
Another key topic of the meeting was the legacy of St. Pope John Paul II as a spiritual bridge between the Ukrainian and Polish peoples. His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that St. John Paul II was the Pope of Ukrainian sovereignty and of its growing agency on the international stage—a consistent advocate for our state and our people. He began addressing us in Ukrainian at a time when we were denied the right to speak our language, and his visit to Ukraine in 2001 was both significant and prophetic.
Quoting St. John Paul II, the Head of the UGCC underscored that the Pope urged nations to build international relations not on the basis of state egoism but in the spirit of solidarity.
A central theme of the meeting was the ongoing process of Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation, particularly the launch of exhumation work on the territory of Ukraine. His Beatitude Sviatoslav stressed the importance of parity and dignity in honoring both Polish and Ukrainian victims, regardless of their place of burial.
“Every person has their dignity and the right to a proper burial. This process is more than just historical—it is, above all, Christian and human,” the Primate stated.
He also recalled that the Council of Christian Churches of Ukraine publicly supported the launch of the exhumation process, and that he himself has repeatedly expressed support for it as a vital step toward healing memory and reconciliation between the two peoples.
For his part, Mr. Piotr Łukasiewicz, a former military officer, shared his deep understanding of the tragedy of Russian aggression against Ukraine. He affirmed that Poland has always stood by Ukraine and will continue to do so, supporting its struggle for freedom, independence, and a European future. Furthermore, the Polish diplomat confirmed Poland’s full support for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
The UGCC Department for Information
