Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Meets with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher in Lviv

On July 17, 2026, Metropolitan of Philadelphia Borys Gudziak met in Lviv with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, during the archbishop’s visit to Ukraine.

The delegation also included Msgr. Antons Prikulis, a Roman Catholic priest and diplomat of the Holy See; Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine; and Roberto Paglialonga, a journalist with the Vatican media outlets L’Osservatore Romano and Vatican News. The delegation was accompanied by Andrii Yurash, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

An important part of the meeting was a presentation about those who had fallen while defending Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War, as well as the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. Their stories helped the visitors gain a deeper understanding of the experiences, losses, and challenges facing Ukrainian society today.

“Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher has come to Ukraine on a mission to discuss the war and seek paths toward peace. That is why it is both important and valuable for him to see how Ukrainians are living during wartime. Through the example of the Ukrainian Catholic University, he can see young people continuing their studies, scholars carrying on their research, and summer camps being held for children. He can also see how, despite destruction and tragic loss of life, Ukrainians continue to build and to live,” Metropolitan Borys Gudziak said.

At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of the Ukrainian Catholic University asked Archbishop Gallagher to convey to Pope Leo XIV an invitation to visit Ukraine.

Based on materials provided by the Ukrainian Catholic University.