His Beatitude Sviatoslav: In the Pope’s room there is a Ukrainian icon which I gave him as a gift in Argentina

Holy Father Francis has in his room an icon, presented to him as a farewell gift by the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church His Beatitude (Shevchuk) upon his leaving of Argentina. His Beatitude Sviatoslav recounted this during an interview with Polish journalists, in answer to their question about 100 days of the service of Pope Francis.  During a recent trip to the Vatican, UGCC Head had the opportunity to stay in the building where the Holy Father resides.

“When I came for dinner, the Pope saw me, got up and greeted me with an embrace.  Then he said:  “I would like to invite you to my room and show you something.”  The Pope led me to his room and showed me the icon which I had given him as a gift upon my leaving Argentina.  Seems that for him it was meaningful enough since he brought it with him to Rome and had a new frame done.  The icon is in the Pope’s room where he prays.  This exemplifies how deeply the Pope connects to all of us.  I am very pleased that he considers me such a good friend” commented UGCC Primate on his latest impressions of Pope Francis.

Also UGCC Head said that he does not know when the Pope will come to Ukraine.  “This depends on many factors, circumstances, which exist in the Catholic Church as well as in the Ukrainian state,” he said.

We remind our readers that on June 13-14 His Beatitude Sviatoslav participated in the Fourth onference of the 13^th Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. The goal of this regular meeting was to choose three possible topics for the following 14^th General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church, to be held in October 2015.

Its context will be the noting of the 50^th anniversary of the completion of the acts of the Second Vatican Council.

UGCC Department of Information