Scottish Catholic Observer

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has said his nation is experiencing a ‘tragedy due the military aggression.’

The on-going conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in the country’s east was a ‘tragedy for all peoples, believers of all faiths and all social groups,’ Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halyche said in a letter addressed to Catholics all over the world as well as religious and political leaders.

“Buildings, churches and monasteries of all religious and ethnic groups are being damaged or destroyed,” the archbishop said. “Clergy of all faiths that exercise their pastoral ministry in the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions and Crimea have suffered, some risking their own lives. We pray for all the innocent victims and for peace in Ukraine. And our Church is doing everything to bring peace and alleviate the suffering of those affected by this terrible conflict.”

He urged all Catholics to pray for his people.

“Ukraine needs the effective support of the global Christian community and support of all people of good will,” he said. “In a media context rife with propaganda, we ask you to evaluate information critically. We need your prayers, your discernment, your good words and effective deeds. Silence and inaction will lead to further tragedy. The fate of Flight MH17 is an example of what may happen, if the terrorist activity is allowed to continue.”

Clergy of all faiths that exercise their pastoral ministry in the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions and Crimea have suffered, some risking their own lives.

More than 2000 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatist rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which declared independence from Kiev following Russia’s annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. In recent weeks, the cathedral church in Donetsk and a nearby convent have been seized by armed rebels. Local church sources in Luhansk report that priests are in constant danger.

Pope Francis also heard another call for peace in Ukraine yesterday when he met Ukrainian football superstar Andriy Shevchenko (below) before last night’s Match for Peace hosted by the Vatican.

“I asked him to pray for my country because we truly need everyone’s help,” Mr Shevchenko said. “It is truly difficult to speak especially with what is happening in my country. But I hope things will get better.”

The player scored a penalty at the Pope’s  inter-religious peace match and later scored for a second time.

—More on Vatican-hosted Match for Peace in this week’s SCO, in parishes from Friday.

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Pic: (Above) Military personnel of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic escort Ukrainian army prisoners of war in downtown Donetsk, Ukraine last week