UGCC Head discussed dangers and challenges facing Ukraine with representatives of German Foreign Ministry

Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Patriarch Sviatoslav held a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, during which they discussed the socio-political situation in Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by Mr Andreas Michaelis, director of the political department of the German Foreign Office, Mr George Aston, deputy head of the working headquarters for Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Mr Christoph Weil, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Ukraine, and Mr Michael Schmidmeier, Policy officer of German Embassy.

The patriarch discussed with foreign guests the dangers and challenges that the Ukrainian state and society are facing now, particularly those related to the elections of local authorities scheduled for the end of October.

The patriarch commented on the position of the UGCC, including non-interference in political process and the political debate around the ongoing constitution amendment process. However, he told foreign guests that the Synod of Bishops strongly condemned the use of brutal force as a method of political struggle and bloodshed in front of the Parliament building.

According to him, the UGCC is preparing a separate message dedicate to these local elections to caution of people against all sorts of abuses, including the temptations that may arise before the elections. First it is going to condemn the sale of votes, because this is an instance of political corruption.

The sides also discussed the need for personal responsibility. “After all, the Head of the Church believes, it is possible to change our country to change our country only if we jointly take responsibility for the situation in the country, everyone for himself. The responsibility for our country rests not only with certain political leaders, but with every citizen in particular. And the responsibility to participate in elections to local authorities is just one of the ways to implement this responsibility for one’s country.” the Information Department of the UGCC reports.