“I am coming back confirmed in my faith” – His Beatitude Sviatoslav stated about his meeting with the Holy Father in Vatican

“I am coming back confirmed in my faith…The Holy Father teaches that only the one who relies on the rock of Peter shall not be shattered, and this fact gives me confidence” With these words His Beatitude Sviatoslav summed up his meeting with the Holy Father Benedict XVI addressing the journalists in Vatican Press Office – reports Vatican Radio. During the press-conference dedicated to the beginning of the ministry as the Head of the UGCC, as well as to the meeting with the Pope of Rome, His Beatitude Sviatoslav was accompanied by Secretary of the Synod of Bishop’s and Bishop of the Curia - Most Rev. Bohdan Dzyurakh and by Bishop of New Westminster (Canada)  - Most Rev. Ken Novakivskyi. “A visit to the Holy See is an opportunity to reveal a full communion with the Holy Father” – stated the UGCC Primate. In his opening remarks to the journalists, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that this day is very special for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.  It is special because the Bishops came after the Electoral Synod to the Holy See to reveal the nature of their Church. The nature is that it is “Eastern”, that is to say “synodal”, because it is guided by Synod and headed by Major Archbishop; and “Catholic” at the same time.  All of this is because it lives up to its identity in full, visible and real communion with the Holy Father. “I also had an opportunity to personally thank the Holy Father, since the confirmation of the choice of such a young bishop is a sign of great confidence” – said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, noting that the average age of priests in the UGCC is 35 years. The Major Archbishop told the journalists that he had shared with the Holy Father the perspectives of cooperation with the orthodox brothers, and their presence during the enthronement ceremony is a sign of good will. Together with the Roman Catholics, the Ukrainian Greek Catholics are called to give witness to the “catholicity” of the Church, i.e. unity in diversity. “The priority of the Church is evangelism” – said His Beatitude Sviatoslav answering the question of journalists whether he had touched in his conversation with the Holy Father the issue of the Patriarchate. According to the UGCC Primate, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as the Eastern Catholic Church that is present in the whole world, is going in the direction of the Patriarchate, but “it is only the Holy Father who can make a decision on this issue. We do not have any intentions to press on him somehow. We respect his will, his decision” – said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. The pastoral care priorities His Beatitude Sviatoslav sees are new evangelization, enculturation and translation of the liturgical texts, as well as in social service of the Church in post-soviet society. Answering the question whether the Head of the UGCC had invited Benedict XVI to Ukraine, His Beatitude Sviatoslav said that the Holy Father is always welcome in Ukraine, but during this meeting there were no talks about a forthcoming visit. His Beatitude Sviatoslav spoke with the journalists in Ukrainian, Italian, Spanish and English. As the director of Vatican Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, remarked in his opening address, “the new Major Archbishop speaks almost all the languages which we can speak, so there is no problem in communication” UGCC Information Department