COMMUNIQUÉ
Synod of Bishops of
the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church 2025
(Rome, June 30 – July 10, 2025)
Unofficial Translation
(Translated from https://ugcc.ua/data/komunikat-synodu-epyskopiv-ugkts-2025-roku-7185/)
The Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was held in the Pontifical College of Saint Josaphat in Rome from June 30 to July 10, 2025. Forty-six hierarchs of the UGCC from Ukraine, Western and Central Europe, North and South America, and Australia participated in the work of the Synod. Among them were 33 ruling bishops, one bishop of the Patriarchal Curia, eight auxiliary bishops, and four bishops emeriti.
The Synod was also attended by invited guests: Archbishop and Metropolitan of Prešov, Jona Maksim; Ruling Bishop of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy, Teodor Matsapula together with Auxiliary Bishop Nil Luschak; Vicar General of the Archbishop of Vienna for the Faithful of the Eastern Catholic Churches in Austria, Father Yuriy Kolasa; Vicar General of the Archbishop of Madrid for Eastern Catholics, Father Andrés Martínez Esteban; Apostolic Administrator for Catholics of the Byzantine Rite in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, Father Vasyl Hovera; Vicar General for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Romania, Father Vasyl Kolopelnyk.
Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome and meeting with the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV
On the eve of the Synod, on June 28, the Synod Fathers took part in the Jubilee Pilgrimage of the UGCC to Rome. The central event of the pilgrimage was the Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, led by the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav. At the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addressed the bishops, numerous clergy, monastics, and over seven thousand laity gathered in the basilica.
The Holy Father, speaking to the Ukrainian “pilgrims of hope,” called on them to share the treasure of faith, and at the same time draw strength from it to endure the trials caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. In particular, he said: “Faith, my dear people, is a treasure that needs to be shared. Every era brings with it difficulties, efforts, and challenges, but also opportunities for growth in trust and devotion to God. The faith of your people is undergoing a severe test today. Many of you, since the war began, have probably asked yourselves the question: Lord, why is this all happening? Where are You? What should we do to save our families, homes, and homeland? To believe is not to have ready-made answers, but to trust that God is with us, that He grants us His grace, that He will speak the last word, and life will triumph over death.”
On June 29, the Synod Fathers participated in the Holy Mass on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, presided over by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Father greeted the Ukrainian bishops with the words: “I also greet the members of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Thank you for your presence here and for your pastoral zeal. May the Lord grant peace to your people!”
That same evening, in the chapel of the Pontifical College of St. Josaphat, Bishop Andriy Khimyak, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, read the Decree convening this year’s Synod. Then, His Beatitude Sviatoslav led a prayer to the Holy Spirit, after which the Synod Fathers and auxiliary personnel took an oath to preserve the Synodal secret.
After the prayer, all participants proceeded in a procession to the Synod hall, bringing the book of the Holy Gospel and a lit candle (symbols of the presence of the risen Christ at the Synod.)
Beginning of working sessions and greetings from the hierarchs
On Monday, June 30, the working sessions of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC began. Opening the first session, the Father and Head of the Church remembered the hierarchs who reposed in the Lord during the past year and announced that four bishops of the UGCC had retired: Vasyl Semenyuk; Mykhailo Koltun; Stepan Menyok; and Dionysii Lyakhovych. His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked these bishops for their long-term sacrificial and faithful service to the people of God. Then he greeted their successors: Metropolitan of Ternopil-Zborovsk Theodore Martyniuk; Bishop of Sokal-Zhovkva, Petro Loza; Exarch of Donetsk, Maxim Ryabukh; and Apostolic Administrator of the Exarchate in Italy, Hryhoriy Komar.
The Synod was particularly pleased to hear the announcement of the appointment of Bishop Mykola Bychko, the ruling bishop of the Melbourne Eparchy of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, as a cardinal. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, on behalf of the Synod, expressed his wishes that the Cardinal’s service to the Universal Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church might be fruitful.
On the same day, two representatives of the Roman Curia arrived at the Synod with welcoming remarks: Kurt Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Claudio Cardinal Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches.
In his address to the bishops, Cardinal Koch outlined the main stages of the development of ecumenical dialogue and shared his vision for its future, including the possibility of celebrating Easter together with the Orthodox Churches. Referring to the Decree of the Second Vatican Council Orientalium Ecclesiarum, he emphasized the “special responsibility” of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the restoration of Christian unity.
Claudio Cardinal Gugerotti thanked the UGCC for its constant closeness to the faithful: “I thank you because you are always with the people. You remain the only source of hope for your people.” He also assured of continued support from the Holy See: “We are ready to do everything possible to help you in your needs — with the means, however limited, that we have at our disposal.”
The main topic of the Synod: pastoral care of families in times of war
On Tuesday, July 1, members of the Synod began work on the main theme of this year’s session of the Synod of Bishops — “Pastoral Care of Families in Conditions of War.”
The working group for the preparation and presentation of the main topic was headed by Bishop Arkady Trokhanowski, Bishop of Olsztyn-Gdańsk, Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Family and Laity Affairs. He delivered a report entitled “Pastoral Care of Families During Wartime.”
In addition to the main report, the bishops heard the following co-reports: “The Situation of Ukrainian Refugees and Refugee Families in the Countries of the European Union and North America” presented by Yuriy Pidlisny; “The Mental State of Ukrainian Families During the War” presented by Maria Trakalo, psychologist, co-founder of the Mental Health Hub “DiyaTy”; “Supporting Families in Mourning” presented by Father Dr. Ihor Boyko, rector of the Lviv Theological Seminary of the Holy Spirit; “Experience of Working with Families During the War” presented by Roman and Natalia Prokopiv, leaders of the “Movement of Christian Families” community.
A broad discussion then took place, during which the Synod Fathers shared their own experience of pastoral care in wartime, the difficulties faced by families, and the new challenges facing the Church.
The results of the discussion became the basis for formulating the decisions of this year’s Synod. The bishops also worked out the text of the post-synodal message entitled “The Family is Hope for the World,” in which they addressed not only the faithful of the UGCC, but also all people of good will.
Audience with the Holy Father and review of the state of the UGCC in the world
On Wednesday, July 2, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC in a private audience. Addressing the Synod Fathers, the Holy Father assured them of his solidarity with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and its faithful: “I am close to you, and through you, to all the faithful of your Church. Let us remain united in one faith and hope. Our communion is a great mystery: true unity also with all brothers and sisters whose lives were torn from this earth but accepted by God. In Him everything lives and finds full meaning.”
During the synodal sessions, seeking to better understand the pastoral situation of the Church in its global dimension, the Synod of Bishops heard reports from representatives of the metropolitanates and regions. The Kyiv Metropolitanate was presented by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, other metropolitanates in Ukraine by Metropolitan Theodore Martyniuk; the Philadelphia Metropolitanate in the USA by Metropolitan Borys Gudziak; the Winnipeg Metropolitanate in Canada by Bishop Andriy Rabiy; the UGCC Metropolitanate in Brazil by Metropolitan Volodymyr Kovbych; the UGCC in Poland by Metropolitan Yevhen Popovych; the eparchies and exarchates in Western Europe, as well as countries without their own hierarchical structures by Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh; the Melbourne Eparchy of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul by Cardinal Mykola Bychok; the Eparchy of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in Argentina by Bishop Daniil Kozlinsky.
These reports allowed the Synod to see not only the challenges faced by the UGCC in various regions of the world, but also the wealth of experience gained in conditions of war, migration, and cultural diversity.
Canonical, liturgical and other specialized issues
The bishops considered a number of important canonical issues. In particular, the Code of Canons of the UGCC was adopted in the second reading, and further steps for its final approval and proclamation were determined. The canonical issues were presented by Metropolitan Yevhen Popovych, head of the Canonical Department of the Patriarchal Curia, together with his colleagues – experts in canon law.
A significant part of the Synodal time was devoted to liturgical issues, such as the publication of the complete Hieratikon, the updated Book of Prayers, the new Prayer Book, and the Book of Prayers for Exorcisms. These issues were presented for consideration by Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, Chairman of the Patriarchal Liturgical Commission.
Among other topics considered by the Synod were: the participation of the UGCC in the ecumenical synodal process presented by Metropolitan Teodor Martyniuk; social service of the Church in times of war presented by Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, Head of the Department of Social Service of the Patriarchal Curia, and Tetiana Stavnycha, President of the Caritas Ukraine Foundation; the activities and mission of the Ukrainian Catholic University presented by Dr. Taras Dobko, Rector of the UCU; the development of military chaplaincy presented by Bishop Bohdan Manyshyn; the state of beatification processes in the UGCC at various levels.
As part of the discussion of the latter issue, the Synod was visited and addressed by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Canonization of Saints, Marcello Cardinal Semeraro, and the Secretary of this Dicastery, Bishop Fabio Fabene. The guests highlighted the historical, canonical, and theological foundations of the beatification and canonization processes in the Catholic Church and answered questions from those present. Special attention was paid to the cause of the beatification of the Righteous Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.
Reporting of UGCC structures
The Synod of Bishops heard numerous reports from structures at various levels, presented by their heads: Report on the state of the judiciary in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church by Metropolitan Yevhen Popovych; Report of the Pastoral Council of the Patriarchal Curia by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski; Report of the Patriarchal Commission for Evangelization by Bishop Yosafat Moshchych; Final report of commissions and departments of the patriarchal level for the past year by Bishop Andriy Khimyak; Report of the Patriarchal Commission for Youth Affairs by Bishop Brian Bayda; Report of the Organizing Committee of the Jubilee Year 2025 by Bishop Yaroslav Pryriz; Financial report of the Patriarchal Curia, Report on donations and funds established by the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, Report on the activities of the Patriarchal Foundation “Wise Deed”, Report on the construction of the Patriarchal Center in Kyiv by Patriarchal Finance Officer Father Lubomyr Yavorsky.
The Synod Fathers supported the proposal of the Patriarchal Catechetical Commission, giving their consent to the Father and Head of the UGCC to proclaim Blessed Josaphata Gordashevska the patroness of catechists of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Meeting with representatives of the Italian state and the head of the Italian Episcopal Conference
A special highlight of this year’s Synod program was the meeting of the bishops serving in Ukraine under the leadership of His Beatitude Sviatoslav with representatives of the government of the Italian Republic. The Ukrainian bishops were received in the Green Hall of the Chigi Palace by the Deputy Secretary of State to the Council of Ministers, Alfredo Mantovano, the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Picetto-Fratin, and the Minister of Health, Orazio Squillaci.
This historic meeting was a testament to the great respect of the Italian state for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as well as a recognition of its significant role in the socio-political life of Ukraine and in the history of the Ukrainian people. Since the event took place in the context of the International Conference on the Restoration of Ukraine, the announcement from the Italian government emphasized: “The presence of Patriarch Sviatoslav and all the Greek Catholic bishops confirms Italy’s desire to support not only the material reconstruction of Ukraine, but also its spiritual and social dimensions.”
The meeting was also attended by: President of the Foundation and Pediatric Hospital “Child Jesus,” Tiziano Onesti; architect, Stefano Boeri; and President of the MAXXI Foundation-National Museum of 21st Century Art, Maria Emanuela Bruni. The different attendees are indicative of the interdisciplinary approach that Italy intends to apply in the process of rebuilding Ukraine from medical cooperation and energy security to socio-cultural, urban and architectural aspects.
On the part of the UGCC, the Apostolic Administrator of the Exarchate of the UGCC in Italy, Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, participated in the meeting.
At the end of the synodal sessions, Matteo Maria Cardinal Zuppi, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, addressed the bishops with a welcoming speech. He assured those present that he would continue to support the Ukrainian people and spoke about his further steps in implementing the humanitarian mission entrusted to him by the late Pope Francis. Then, on behalf of the Synod, the Head of the UGCC personally thanked Cardinal Zuppi and the entire Italian episcopate for their support of our Church and the Ukrainian people.
Common Prayer and Final Acts of the Synod of Bishops 2025
As every year, the working sessions of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC were accompanied by prayer and spiritual guidance. This year’s preacher at the Synod was Father Taras Babiy, rector of the Diocesan Institute for the Pastoral Care of Spouses and Families of Saints Joachim and Anna of the Stryi Eparchy, who delivered sermons at daily Liturgies and teachings during the day of spiritual renewal.
On Wednesday, July 2, during a fraternal dinner, the Synod Fathers congratulated this year’s jubilarians from among the bishops, priests, and laypeople who assist in the conduct of the Synod. And on Saturday, July 5, they liturgically commemorated the deceased brothers in the episcopal ministry, remembering by name numerous bishops of the UGCC, whose names were listed in the memorial book prepared by the Secretariat of the Synod.
The bishops of the UGCC, led by the Father and Head of the Church, offered daily prayers for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, confirming their determination to do everything possible to provide spiritual and humanitarian support to the Ukrainian people and to be their voice before church and state leaders in the countries of their ministry.
Finally, the bishops of the UGCC approved as a basis the text of the Post-Synodal Message and a series of letters from the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC to the heads of Episcopal Conferences and Churches sui iuris, the leadership of the Ukrainian state, and absent members of the Synod.
The Synod of Bishops of the UGCC decided to hold the next session in July 2026 of the year of God. The main theme of the next Synod was determined to be: “Pastoral care of vocations to the priesthood and monasticism.”