UGCC Head voiced his apprehension that some radical groups want to wreck the Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation process

Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church Primate, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), expressed his apprehension about learning that some radical groups want to take advantage of the 70^th anniversary of the 1943 bloody events in Volyn, due to be commemorated next year, in order to break up the reconciliation process between the Polish and Ukrainian people.  This statement was made during an interview of the UGCC Head by the Polish Catholic Information Agency. “In 2005 an act of reconciliation took place between the bishops of the Polish Roman Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.  It was an act of forgiveness and healing of our shared memoirs. This is our platform to build a better future.  This was an example which we, as Christians gave to our countries – Poland and Ukraine -- because in our history there have been many significant and dramatic moments.  We did this in order to ask each other forgiveness,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. However, he underlined that the stance of some of the radical groups towards the Volyn tragedy demonstrates “how much more has to be done to achieve reconciliation between our peoples, to make this understandable to all strata of our society.” Simultaneously, the UGCC Primate also noted that we should also reconcile with the Orthodox Church, especially with that of the Moscow Patriarchate. “Only by mutually acknowledging our sins and forgiving them, can we free ourselves from the heavy burden of our history, to meet each other’s eyes as Christians -- as brethren-- and build a Christian Ukraine and Russia. This is very necessary and we will aspire towards it, but it will not be an easy path.  I know that the Polish hierarchs are working on an act of reconciliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.  Through the centuries, many complex issues have accumulated between the Poles and the Russians. However, I do trust that the Russians and the Poles really want to reach such reconciliation.  For us, it would be a great example and a stimulus, since we also should be headed in that direction,” emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

UGCC Department of Information