Delegation of the Archeparchy Participates in the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches in Rome

On Wednesday, May 14, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV met at the Vatican with members of the Eastern Catholic Churches—among whom a significant number were Ukrainian Greek-Catholics—and issued a heartfelt call for peace and dialogue among nations.

“Christ is risen. He is truly risen! I greet you with these words that Eastern Christians in many lands never tire of repeating during the Easter season, as they profess the very heart of our faith and hope,” the Holy Father said. “It is very moving for me to see you here during the Jubilee of Hope, a hope unshakably grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Welcome to Rome! I am happy to be with you and to devote one of the first audiences of my pontificate to the Eastern faithful.”

Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of the Eastern Churches in the life of the universal Church: “The Church needs you. The contribution that the Christian East can offer us today is immense! We have great need to recover the sense of mystery that remains alive in your liturgies.”

Recalling the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, the Holy Father quoted his namesake’s strong defense of Eastern Catholic traditions: “Preserving the Eastern rites is more important than is generally realized.” He reiterated Leo XIII’s decree that any Latin-Rite missionary who tries to draw Eastern-Rite Catholics into the Latin Rite “ought to be dismissed and removed from office.”

Pope Leo XIV continued, “We willingly reiterate this appeal to preserve and promote the Christian East, especially in the diaspora. In addition to establishing Eastern jurisdictions wherever possible and appropriate, there is a need to promote greater awareness among Latin Christians. I ask the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches—whom I thank for their work—to help me define principles, norms, and guidelines so that Latin bishops can concretely support Eastern Catholics in preserving their living traditions and, through their unique witness, enrich the communities in which they live.”

Commenting on the Holy Father’s message, Archbishop Borys Gudziak noted: “The Pope spoke about the depth and beauty of Eastern Catholic traditions—about how important their liturgical, mystical, and ascetic practices are, especially in the context of persecution and war. He stressed that Eastern Catholics have a special responsibility to preserve and foster these traditions, and that the Latin Church must respect them. He quoted Pope Leo XIII, an admirer and protector of the Christian East, saying that any Roman Catholic who tries to pull Eastern Christians away from their tradition should simply stop doing ministry. Those were strong and clear words. And, of course, the Pope addressed the suffering of Eastern Catholics today—whether in North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, or Eastern Europe. All are embraced by his love and concern.”

That same day, a solemn Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Rite was celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica as part of the Jubilee. Patriarch Youssef Absi of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church presided over the Liturgy, and the homily was delivered by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Concelebrating were Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, as well as bishops and priests of the Byzantine tradition, including Metropolitan Borys Gudziak.

In his homily, His Beatitude Sviatoslav proclaimed: “Our faith in God the Father, our hope revealed in His Son, and the love given to us in the Holy Spirit—the love that renews—this is the secret of our mysterious ability to rise again to life after every great sorrow and persecution, our ability to proclaim the sanctity of life in today’s kingdom of death. As bearers of the Spirit of the Risen Jesus, as Pope Leo XIV reminded us, we, together with the current successor of Peter, can proclaim to all nations of the world from this highest of thrones: ‘Peace be with you!’”

In addition to attending the Jubilee events, the delegation of the Archeparchy made the pilgrimage to the four major basilicas of Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City; St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome; St. Mary Major, the principal Marian basilica and burial site of Pope Francis; and St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over the tomb of the Apostle Paul. Visiting these four basilicas is a central part of the Jubilee pilgrimage tradition and is closely connected with the opportunity to receive the Jubilee indulgence.