Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Participated in the Permanent Synod of the UGCC in Madrid

From May 25-28, 2026, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak participated in the session of the Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in Madrid, where bishops discussed pastoral care for Ukrainians around the world, support for families during wartime, the formation of future priests, and ministry to young people. Members of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC gathered under the leadership of His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

Over several days, the bishops addressed a wide range of topics concerning the life of the Church, pastoral ministry, the synodal process, the war in Ukraine, and migration-related challenges. Particular attention was given to supporting families and lay faithful affected by the war, as well as preparing the principal theme of the 2026 Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, which will focus on fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

During a meeting between the members of the Permanent Synod and Archbishop Luis Argüello García, President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, each bishop presented the pastoral situation in the country where he serves. Metropolitan Borys reflected on the development of the pastoral ministry of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, noting: “First the faithful arrive, then they ask for a priest.”

Members of the Permanent Synod also met at the Embassy of Ukraine in Spain with Ambassador Yuliia Sokolovska. Their discussion focused on support for Ukrainians in Spain, the development of pastoral care, cultural diplomacy, and the preservation of Ukrainian identity abroad. Metropolitan Borys emphasized the role of the UGCC in preserving Ukrainian identity throughout the world and noted that up to one thousand Greek Catholic communities serve the faithful outside Ukraine.

The Synod also devoted special attention to youth ministry and pastoral care for Ukrainians abroad, receiving and approving reports from the Patriarchal Commission for Youth Affairs and the Pastoral-Migration Department of the UGCC.

The bishops met as well with Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid and Ordinary for Eastern Catholics in Spain. During this meeting, Metropolitan Borys, together with Bishops Volodymyr Yushchak and Bohdan Dzyurakh, shared their experiences of cooperation with Catholic bishops’ conferences in the countries where they serve — the United States, Poland, and Germany.

Members of the Synod also visited Toledo, where they met with Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves, Primate of Spain. As a result of the meetings in Madrid, the UGCC and the Catholic Church in Spain reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in their shared ministry to Ukrainians affected by the war.

In a separate resolution, the Permanent Synod expressed gratitude to Bishop Stepan Sus and the staff of the Pastoral-Migration Department for their work and for organizing the visit to Spain.

Based on ugcc.ua