Pope Francis appointed in the open letter Jan Sobilo, auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia as Chairman of the Committee for humanitarian aid collected on his initiative among Catholics of Europe for victims of the war in eastern Ukraine. This was reported by the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine.

On  April 24, the Catholic Churches of Europe collected funds for the needs of victims of war in Ukraine, which was announced by Pope Francis on April 3. The amount of money raised has not been disclosed but it is known that the Pope himself offered a personal contribution.

“Collected donations are intended exclusively for the population affected by the war, without discrimination on faith, denomination or ethnicity grounds,” -Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has said in the letter to Bishop John Sobilo by which the Vatican appoints its Chairman of the Technical Committee for allocation of funds. The Committee will consist of five persons and his mandate will last one year and may be extended.

The framework of the Committee’s activity is being formed, but it is known that to determine individual cases of aid provision it will resort to the proposals that would be send by interreligious or interfaith bodies in some regions, bishops, including non-Catholic, and other organizations.

“As far as personal initiative of Pope is concerned, the ultimate responsible entities will be the Secretariat of State and the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum,” via the Apostolic Nunciature in Ukraine. The Pontifical Council, in particular, will be entrusted the general oversight over the technical implementation of the initiative, as well as evaluation of technical issues concerning their projects and final approvals,” the Apostolic Nunciature reports.

In an exclusive commentary for RISU, Bishop Ian Sobilo said that papal event for Ukraine is intended to show love and care of the Catholic Church to war-weary Ukrainians. “Spiritual and moral situation of people affected by war is very difficult. Papal aid will be rays of joy for them and hope that the brothers and sisters in Europe do not forget them,” Bishop Sobilo said.

On June 15-20, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin will make an official visit to Ukraine. The meetings in Kyiv, Lviv and Zaporizhia are scheduled, which officially launch the action “Ukraine for the Pope,” he is to meet not only church or state leaders, but also immigrants and those who have been affected the most by war.

Previously, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti visited the conflict zone, in particular, he celebrated Easter in separatist-controlled Donetsk, and managed to communicate with immigrants, residents outside the control of the territories and those who live in the “grey zone” - immediately at the contact line.