Russian Catholic bishops recall St. John Paul’s restoration of hierarchy
The Catholic bishops of Russia have issued a letter commemorating the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s appointment of Latin-rite bishops in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan following seven decades of Communist oppression, Catholic Culture informs.
On April 13, 1991, the Pontiff established the Apostolic Administration of European Russia (now the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow), the Apostolic Administration of Siberia (now the Diocese of the Transfiguration at Novosibirsk), the Apostolic Administration of Kazakhstan (now the Diocese of Karaganda), and the Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus.
In their letter, Russia’s bishops invited the faithful to make a novena of thanksgiving “so that joy and gratitude do not leave our hearts.” They also recalled the violent persecution of the Church in the former Soviet Union.
