Ivan Levytskyi News Today

This week the Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops are holding their annual synod in Rome, meeting with Pope Francis and other top Vatican officials amid ongoing fallout from the pope’s recent praise of Russia.

The bishops of the UGCC told the Pope about the suffering of their people and the pain of misunderstandings between Ukraine and the Vatican.

The meeting between the Pope and 45 bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church lasted nearly two hours in a room off of the Paul VI Hall.

The Ukrainian bishops did not hold back during a nearly two-hour private audience with the pope.

“We expressed to the pope everything that our faithful in Ukraine and throughout the world entrusted us to convey to His Holiness,” the bishops said. 

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has issued an appeal to international leaders to seek the release of two priests who are being held by Russian troops.