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Ukrainian Greek Catholics Saddened by Pope's Resignation
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- Created on 14 February 2013
The Information Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) published a letter by Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk saying that the clergymen of the UGCC were sad to hear about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
“On one hand, we feel orphaned because the faithful of our Church always viewed Your Person as the Father who repeatedly addressed with a fatherly word our nation in its tongue during various events in the Apostolic See. On the other hand, we would like to assure Your Holiness of our kinship and filial faithfulness,” reads the address of the patriarch.
On behalf of himself and the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, clergy, monastics and laity and all Ukrainians, Patriarch Sviatoslav expressed sincere gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI for “the bold testimony of the faith, wise leadership of the Universal Church and full commitment to the work of Christ.”
In particular, the head of the UGCC on behalf of the faithful thanked the Pope for “fatherly care for the development of our Church and due attention paid to the development of its structures in Ukraine and abroad” and for giving his blessing for the establishment of three new metropolitanates in western Ukraine.
“Most Holy Father, having declared the Year of Faith, You gave everyone an extraordinary lesson of the faith by Your humble act. Your courageous choice inspires and encourages us to fully trust our Lord Who takes good care of His Church,” reads the address.