“We’re Not Counting on Something, but on Someone”: Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the Support Ukraine Needs from Poles Amid the War
Ukraine needs not only material aid but also goodwill, human solidarity, and loyal friends in Poland. At the same time, it is important to support Ukraine’s European integration and foster cooperation between the Church’s social services in the two countries. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, emphasized this in an interview with the Polish Catholic Information Agency (KAI).
“We are not counting on something, but on someone. We need good and loyal friends. We need kindness, support, and simple human solidarity,” emphasized the Head of the Church.
According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Ukraine can give Poland more than it can receive from it. He called for viewing Ukrainians in Poland from a human perspective and recognizing their contribution to the well-being of Polish society: “Ukrainians in Poland truly contribute to the well-being of Poles and are loyal to the Polish state. This goes beyond their work and tax payments; it also reflects their hearts, minds, and commitment.”
The Primate also noted that, as in any society, there are all kinds of people among Ukrainians. Therefore, it is important not to generalize from the behavior of individuals to the entire community. Given the war, material aid remains critical, but Ukraine also needs personal support and a friendly attitude.
“We need something more from the Poles than just material gifts, although these gifts are extremely important to us during this time of war. We need good and loyal friends. As St. Paul said to the first Christians: ‘We need your prayers and kind words,’” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
He also emphasized the importance of Polish support for Ukraine’s European integration: “We are not a threat, but a source of strength for the European community in the future. Saint John Paul II told the Poles: ‘Poland needs Europe, and Europe needs Poland.’ I think the Pope would say the same about Ukraine today: ‘Ukraine needs Europe, and Europe needs Ukraine.’ Whenever someone fuels hatred or Euroskepticism, they are working against the future of Europe and Poland.”
In conclusion, the Head of the UGCC thanked the Catholic Church in Poland for its assistance to Ukraine and expressed his readiness to continue cooperating.
Such cooperation, however, must be properly organized. This involves not only financial support but also the creation of sustainable social service structures to ensure that aid reaches the people and communities who need it most.
“We must build sustainable social service structures that will ensure that material aid reaches the person, village, or city where it is most needed,” explained the Head of the UGCC.
According to him, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine are ready to guarantee transparency in the use of aid and effective cooperation between their social organizations.
“On the part of the Ukrainian Churches—both the Greek Catholic and the Roman Catholic—we guarantee transparency. We guarantee that there will be no corruption whatsoever in our communities, and that Caritas Spes and Caritas Ukraine are committed to cooperation at the highest level,” emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The UGCC Department for Information
