Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church head meets Pope Leo XIV to discuss POWs, abducted children and winter in Ukraine

24.10.2026, 18:08 rubryka.com

At the beginning of the meeting, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav thanked Pope Leo XIV for the opportunity to speak with him in person, given that the pontiff is still recovering from a recent surgical procedure. The head of the UGCC also assured the Holy Father that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was praying for him throughout his treatment and recovery.

During the audience, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav expressed his gratitude to the Pope for his support for Ukraine and his repeated calls for an end to the war. He also highlighted the importance of the pontiff's appeals to prevent attacks on civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure ahead of winter.

The head of the UGCC also emphasised the importance of the Holy See's humanitarian diplomacy, which aims to:

In this context, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav mentioned Cardinal Matteo Zuppi's mission to Russia and his recent visit to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in a Russian prison. According to the head of the UGCC, this was the first time a representative of an international institution had been able to visit Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russian captivity.

"This is a sign that no one is forgotten. The Lord God remembers everyone. And the Mother Church cares for all our prisoners of war and illegally detained hostages, seeking to ensure their release as soon as possible," Major Archbishop Sviatoslav said.

The discussion also focused on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories. The head of the UGCC expressed particular gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in occupied Oleshky. He also thanked the pontiff for his recent conversations with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine.

Another topic at the meeting was Ukraine's preparations for winter amid Russia's full-scale war. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav told the Pope about the challenges the country faces ahead of the cold season and appealed for the support and solidarity of the international Catholic community during this difficult time for the Ukrainian people.

During the audience, the head of the UGCC also presented the pontiff with gifts related to the history and contemporary life of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

In particular, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav presented the Pope with a postage stamp and a commemorative booklet issued by Vatican City to mark three important milestones in the history of the UGCC: the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the UGCC's Kyiv Metropolis, the 20th anniversary of the return of the Church's head's residence to Kyiv, and the 12th anniversary of the consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Ukraine's capital.

The stamp issue was produced through cooperation between the Vatican Post and the Secretariat of the Head of the UGCC in Rome.

Another gift was a special stamp featuring Pope Leo XIV, issued in Ukraine as a gesture of gratitude to the Holy See for its active role in the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally abducted.

The gifts also included the photo album Pilgrims of Hope, dedicated to the UGCC's jubilee pilgrimage to St. Peter's Basilica and the Ukrainian community's meeting with Pope Leo XIV, and Hemingway Knows Nothing, a book by Artur Dron, a veteran of Russia's war against Ukraine.

At the end of the audience, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav once again handed Pope Leo XIV lists of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

As previously reported, earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV initiated the delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Generators, medicines and food supplies have already been delivered to support the population amid freezing temperatures and damage to the energy system.

In June, it was also reported that a humanitarian convoy of nearly 30 vehicles was heading to Ukraine, including 20 ambulances for medical units of the State Border Guard Service. Pope Leo XIV blessed the vehicles before their departure.