The Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, March 24-27, 1980
The Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, convened by Pope John Paul II, was held there from March 24 to 27, 1980. This gathering of Ukrainian bishops was special because it was the first Synod recognized by the Vatican Curia. Additionally, during its meetings, a coadjutor for Patriarch Josyf Slipyj was elected.
The Synod’s meetings began on Monday morning with a liturgy in the Sistine Chapel. Fourteen Ukrainian bishops from around the world gathered, led by His Beatitude Josyf. During the liturgy, Pope John Paul II delivered a sermon in Ukrainian, addressing the bishops with these words:
“The deep desire that the Synod should be celebrated ad Petri cathedram has no other purpose but to highlight ‘the unity we have received from the Apostles: collegial unity.’ And ‘this unity came to birth, in a sense, at the table of the Bread of the Lord on Holy Thursday.’”
After the prayer, the bishops convened in the synodal hall of Bologna. At the start of the meetings, Josyf Slipyj addressed his fellow bishops:
“This Synod, so important for us, is one of the events that so grandly becomes a part of the celebrations of the millennium of Christianity in Rus-Ukraine. It is a step towards our unification in our dispersed settlements and the rebirth of our Church in Christ the Lord. Now, aware of the grandeur and historicity of this event of which we are the makers, let us take this responsible step with the fear of God and with faith. Let us be of one mind, as one; let us be ourselves, faithful sons and pastors of the Catholic Church, and true, good children of our native Church of Rus-Ukraine.”
The Synodal meetings lasted until Thursday, March 27. Their goal was to select three candidates for coadjutor to Patriarch Josyf. All voting was conducted in secret. After the Synod selected these candidates, their names were submitted to the Pope for final selection. On the last day of the Synod, Pope John Paul II gathered all the Ukrainian bishops, led by Patriarch Josyf, and announced the appointment of Myroslav Ivan Lyubachivsky, Metropolitan of Philadelphia, as coadjutor with the right of succession.
"His outstanding piety, his pastoral zeal, his academic qualifications, and the fine gifts of meekness and humility that adorn his spirit make him worthy, moreover, of this high office. My confidence and my most sincere and hearty good wishes go to him. Your Eminence will have in him a worthy and fitting Coadjutor."
On this anniversary, let us remember in our prayers Pope John Paul II, who took a great step in uniting our scattered eparchies and convened the Synod of the UGCC 45 years ago, as well as Bishop Myroslav Ivan Lyubachivsky, who accepted the ministry to lead our Church after Josyf Slipyj.
