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Catholic leaders urge Poland and Ukraine to pursue reconciliation, disarm language

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Catholic leaders from Poland and Ukraine have issued a rare joint appeal for reconciliation between their nations, urging both peoples to reject hostility, embrace forgiveness, and preserve the Christian bonds that unite them despite growing political and historical tensions.

The statement, released June 29 from Rome and Kyiv, was signed by Cardinals Mykola Bychok, Konrad Krajewski, Kazimierz Nycz, and Grzegorz Ryś, together with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The appeal was issued while the cardinals were gathered in Rome for the recent consistory.

Opening their message, the Church leaders said they were speaking “in unity with Holy Father Leo XIV,” whose first year as pope “has been marked by persistent work to build peace based on the common good and by resolute opposition to war in all its dimensions.”

The signatories said the question of reconciliation between Poland and Ukraine extends beyond politics.

“We are aware that the question of reconciliation between Poles and Ukrainians concerns not only relations between the two peoples but also the authenticity of our common Christian witness,” they wrote.

The appeal…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (25) 🌐 Show original

Анастасия Морозова

The word “common Christian witness” in the text is very close to heart. Do you think our parishes in Belarus and Ukraine will be able to serve together in this spiritual fraternal connection, as in the old churches in Volyn?

Валентина Фёдорова

Yes, that’s right - “the authenticity of our common Christian witness” - this is the basis. Nowadays, it is often forgotten that faith unites more than arguments.

Константин Козлов

There is probably an error in the article: Metropolitan Mikhail (Mikola) Bichok is Orthodox, not Catholic. In Tula we say this: first, let’s see who exactly signed up, and not what it says in the newspaper.

Тимофей Новиков

I agree, Anastasia. Last year in our parish we discussed how Orthodox and Greek Catholics served together in the old churches of Volyn - this is the true Christian witness that is spoken of in the call. Do you think such practices are now being revived in Belarus?

Роман Фёдоров

Last year, my son and I went to the monastery of St. Euphrosyne in Volyn - Orthodox and Greek Catholics still pray together there in the old church. Do you think such meetings are possible in Belarus now?

Иванка Димитрова

Yesterday on the beach, my son told me that in the church of Saint Stephen in Burgas, Orthodox and Greek Catholics pray together on the feast of Saint Ephrosinia, as was the case in Volyn. I think this is the true Christian witness that the cardinals mentioned.

Ксения Фёдорова

In our parish in Munich, in the chapel there is an icon of St. Euphrosyne of Volyn, which was presented by Volyn old-timers. I asked the pastor if it was possible to invite the Volyn elders to Belarus for a meeting - he replied that for now it was only in memory.

Любовь Морозова

Yes, Timofey, in Volyn this really happened in old churches, and this is a good example. But in Belarus, I have not yet heard about the revival of joint services - more about individual parishes and assistance to refugees. Do you have any recent news on this matter in your parish?

Михаил Петров

It’s interesting that the icon from the Volyn old-timers remained in your Munich parish. Here in Yekaterinburg, too, sometimes such family shrines are brought from Western Ukraine, but things rarely go beyond talking about a meeting. What did your shepherd mean by “only in memory” - just a memorial service or caution because of old grievances?

Илья Смирнов

It’s interesting that the icon is from Volyn old-timers. In Samara, we also brought similar family images from those regions, but most often they are placed in a home corner, and not in a church. The shepherd, in my opinion, had in mind precisely the memorial memory without public discussions of old wounds, so as not to awaken unnecessary things. In Yekaterinburg, do such icons more often remain in families or are they sometimes brought out for services?

Георгий Лебедев

Yes, in Volyn such joint services in old churches are truly an example worth remembering. In our parish in Rostov-on-Don we also remember how in the 90s Greek Catholics sometimes prayed with us at general prayer services. And in Belarus, Timofey, have you heard anything yourself or is this just a question out of curiosity?

Георгий Павлов

It’s interesting that in Yekaterinburg such icons from Western Ukraine also appear. Our father, it seems, had in mind a memorial service without unnecessary talk about Volyn, so as not to stir up the old things in front of people. Have you ever tried to discuss these family shrines with Ukrainian parishioners in your parish, or is everything at the “brought it and keep quiet” level?

Анна Волкова

Yes, such joint prayers in one church are rare, but they show that locally people still find a common language. Here in Belarus it’s more difficult now: after all the events, the authorities are cautious about any joint actions, especially with Greek Catholics. Which monastery in Volyn were you in, Roman?

Валентина Соколова

Yes, in Volyn such services in old churches are truly memorable. In Voronezh in the 2000s, Greek Catholics also came a couple of times for the patronal feast, prayed together, without disputes. Do you now have such joint prayer services in Rostov or not anymore?

Тимофей Кузнецов

It’s interesting that the icon came to us in Munich from the Volyn old-timers - it was given to us by one of the family’s grandmothers, who left there in the 40s. Our pastor, it seems, had in mind a quiet memorial at the proskomedia, without sermons or discussions, so as not to offend those whose relatives on both sides suffered. In Yekaterinburg, do you often bring such icons to church or do you keep them more and more at home?

Ольга Попова

I agree, it’s often easier in the localities than at the top. But in Belarus, everything is really now under great control, even joint prayers for peace can raise questions. In which church in Belarus did you try to organize something similar with Greek Catholics?

Софья Беляева

I agree, it is indeed often easier to reach an agreement locally. In Nizhny Novgorod, the Greek Catholics and I served a prayer for peace together a couple of times in an ordinary parish church, without any loud announcements, and everything went calmly. And in Belarus, judging by your words, even this is at gunpoint, right?

Евгения Козлова

Konstantin, thanks for clarifying. I, too, was surprised at first when I saw “Catholic leaders,” and then I checked: Bichok is really a Greek Catholic metropolitan, and not an Orthodox one. In Tula, we often confuse these subtleties, especially when the names are similar. Where did you notice this first?

Ирина Соловьёва

Yes, here in Nizhny this is really easier, without unnecessary noise. We also once invited Greek Catholics to a joint prayer in church at Christmas - no one made a fuss, we even gave everyone tea afterwards. And in Belarus, according to you, it turns out that even prayers for peace are under suspicion?

Николай Беляев

In a small parish in the outskirts of Minsk, a couple of years ago we tried to organize a joint prayer service for peace with Greek Catholics, but after the first time the priest said that it was better not to repeat it for now - too many questions came from above. So now we limit ourselves to personal conversations after services. Are such attempts still alive somewhere in Belarus or has everything died down?

Екатерина Макарова

In Moscow last year, they also brought an icon from Volyn for the patronal feast, but the old-timers did not come themselves - they only passed it on through friends. And your shepherd probably meant that for now it’s better not to risk a live meeting, so as not to stir up old grievances? I wonder how this icon is usually venerated in Munich - is it just on a shelf or taken out for service?

Олег Комаров

In Yekaterinburg, we often keep such icons at home, especially among those who have relatives from Volyn or Galicia. And a quiet memorial at the proskomedia is definitely the most correct approach, without unnecessary words. Do the descendants of those families that left in the 40s often gather in Munich, or do they rarely anymore?

Светлана Волкова

Yes, in Nizhny, it seems, the atmosphere is softer. But in Belarus that prayer service was actually almost cancelled, although there they simply prayed for peace, without any politics. In your church, after prayer, they at least gave everyone tea - that’s our way, the simple way.

Yes, Sophia, in Nizhny it really is simpler without fanfare - the Greek Catholics and I once even sang the troparion together in church on the patronal feast day, and then simply shared the pies on the table in the refectory. Nobody was indignant. But in Belarus, judging by your experience, even such a quiet prayer service can be interpreted incorrectly?

Иван Виноградов

Yes, in Belarus, even such a quiet prayer for peace can be looked at askance, especially if in a church. My wife and I once went to a small parish near Minsk, where there were Greek Catholics, we just talked after the service - and then the priest carefully warned us not to make unnecessary announcements. And in Nizhny, by the way, how often do such meetings happen?