As the conflict in Ukraine continues, Cardinal Mykola Bychok brought the suffering of the country’s people to Pope Leo XIV on June 24, presenting him with a flag and a cross belonging to a soldier who fought in the war. Source: Vatican News.
Cardinal Bychok, bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne, was in Rome for the Extraordinary Consistory, held on June 26-29.
He gave the Pope the items at the end of the Wednesday General Audience.
In a question-and-answer session ahead of the consistory, Cardinal Bychok spoke about the significance of the gift and how the Ukrainian Church can contribute to discussions on peace.
Q Your Eminence, at the end of Wednesday’s General Audience, you had the opportunity to greet Pope Leo XIV and present him a gift. Could you speak about this moment and the significance of this gift?
This was a great opportunity for me. First of all, to pray with the Pope and to reflect on the Word of God during the audience. Then at the end of the prayer, I was able to approach the Holy Father and present to him a cross and Ukrainian flag which belonged to a Ukrainian soldier who is a veteran now. He spent three years in the war.
He actually asked me through another veteran to pass this present to the Holy Father. I had given these items to a Ukrainian priest in February, and when I landed in Rome from Melbourne, this priest told me he still had the flag and the cross.
It was a great sign of God because I was planning to participate in the Pope’s General Audience. I then approached the Holy Father and gave him greetings from Australia and Ukraine.
I expressed words of gratitude for the support for Ukraine in this time of war, as well as to the Ukrainian people who are wounded and deeply traumatised, especially those who have spent a few years on the front line, such as our soldiers, veterans, those missing in action, and those who are in captivity.
When I gave this present to the Holy Father, I stressed and pointed out that this flag and cross are a huge sign for Ukraine. I also expressed this request from the Ukrainian soldiers to continue to proclaim the truth about the war in Ukraine, to be this beacon of hope and truth.
It was a sign of hope for Ukraine, that we are not alone, we are with God and as well the whole Catholic Church, and the leader of the Church, Pope Leo XIV, is with us as well.
Q: In your opinion, what contribution can the Ukrainian Church make to these discussions on peace?
We should be open for discussions. We as a country have a border which we cannot pass [up], because this is our land. Thousands and thousands of our soldiers, women, have given up their life for the future of our country, of our families, our children.
For this reason, we should be open to discussions. However, war brings many traumas, wounds, and losses. Right now, we can see the result of the war. Many people, especially those who spent some time at the front line – not only soldiers, but also civilians – for them it’s difficult to live in a quiet situation, so these are the wounds and traumas of war.
We have passed some challenges, but I think many still stand before us. Even when the war will stop, fresh wounds will open.
However, as I said, we are not alone. God is with us, and the Catholic Church as well.
FULL STORY
Cardinal Bychok: Ukraine is not alone, Church and Pope are with us (By Viktoria Havaleshko and Isabella H. de Carvalho, Vatican News)
