Two Belarusian Catholic priests listed as political prisoners of the regime have been freed, following a visit of a papal envoy to the country. Source: Catholic Review.
Oblate Fr Andrzej Juchniewicz, chairman of major superiors, delegates and representatives of institutes and societies of apostolic life, and Fr Henrykh Akalatovich, an elderly and unwell parish rector from Valožyn, were freed on November 20, according to the Belarusian Catholic bishops’ conference.
The news came as a direct consequence of Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti’s October visit to the country on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Diocese of Pinsk.
Cardinal Gugerotti is prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches and was apostolic nuncio to Belarus from 2011 to 2015.
“We welcome the visit to Belarus of the High Representative of Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, in October 2025, and the agreements reached. He is a long-time friend of the Republic of Belarus who has done much for the Catholic Church in our country, as well as for the development of state-Church and interreligious dialogue,” Belarus’ Catholic bishops wrote in the November 20 statement.
The statement said that Cardinal Gugerotti’s visit provided “an important result of which was the decision of the President of the Republic of Belarus, as an expression of mercy and respect for the Pope, to pardon and release from prison Catholic priests serving prison sentences”, the statement said about the pardon granted by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.
“The Catholic Church in Belarus welcomes the country’s positive trends in the international order, the resumption of dialogue between the Republic of Belarus and the United States, and the strengthening of contacts with the Vatican,” the statement said.
Cardinal Gugerotti told Vatican News that the release of priests is the result of the Holy See’s approach: “The Holy See rejoices when others open doors so that people can meet in person.”
He emphasised that a willingness to dialogue is the most effective recipe for both interpersonal and political relationships.
“I don’t talk to you, I don’t see you” tactics are ineffective, the cardinal said.
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Two Catholic priests freed in Belarus after visit of papal envoy to the country (By Paulina Guzik and Jonathan Luxmoore, OSV News via Catholic Review)
