A Historic Encounter: Pope Leo XIV Meets Ukrainian Catholic Pilgrims in Rome

On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the Ukrainian Catholic Church experienced a moment of profound spiritual significance as nearly 7,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican during their official Jubilee pilgrimage under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Led by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Head of the UGCC, the pilgrims entered through the Holy Door, symbolizing their desire for renewal and deeper communion with the universal Church. At the heart of this solemn celebration, they were joined by Pope Leo XIV, who personally addressed them at the main altar.

In his warm greeting, the Pope acknowledged the deep faith and suffering of the Ukrainian people during this time of war. He expressed his solidarity, saying he shares in the pain of those grieving the loss of loved ones and the anguish of families of prisoners of war.

The Holy Father reflected on the meaning of faith in the face of suffering, reminding the faithful that trusting in God's presence — even when answers seem absent — is itself a powerful testimony. He praised Ukraine’s enduring Christian witness, shaped by centuries of faithfulness, often through persecution and martyrdom.

“Faith does not eliminate suffering,” he said, “but it gives us the courage to believe that life, not death, will have the final word.”

Drawing inspiration from the Mother of God, so beloved in Ukrainian tradition, the Pope encouraged everyone to remain steadfast in prayer, open to hope, and active in seeking peace. He called the pilgrimage a sign of unity with the Successor of Peter and a powerful expression of spiritual resilience.

At the conclusion of the encounter, Pope Leo XIV offered his Apostolic Blessing and took time to personally greet the UGCC bishops present in Rome for their Synod, along with a group of mothers of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, offering them words of comfort and compassion.

To mark the occasion, the Ukrainian pilgrims presented the Pope with a specially commissioned icon of the Mother of God Oranta, which beautifully incorporates the images of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kyiv, along with the emblem of the Jubilee Year. The icon symbolizes the spiritual bond between the Ukrainian Church and the Holy See.

This moving encounter stands as a living testimony to the unbroken ties of communion between the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and the Apostolic See — a moment of grace in a time of trial, and a beacon of hope for a nation seeking peace.