Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, who came to Ukraine on the occasion of completion of the Pope for Ukraine Initiative celebrated the prayer service in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv, together with the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Praying along with him were Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, and Bishop Joseph (Milian), Assistant Bishop of Kyiv Archeparchy.

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, explaining Cardinal Turkson's role in the Church, has noted the latter is responsible for matters related to migration, and is engaged in charitable projects of the Pope, in particular when urgent assistance to victims of natural disasters, cataclysms, wars should be provided. In addition, the cardinal deals with the problem of human trafficking. According to him, the Dicastery, which embraces all these areas of ministry, can be compared with the Ministry of Social Policy.

“I’m conveying to you the sincerest wishes from His Holiness Pope Francis and from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Apostolic See. At the same time, I express my deep joy from the fact that I can be with you and bring together prayers for peace with you,” said the high guest in his speech at the Patriarchal Council.

“During the prayer, we prayed and besought God for peace. Because we know that peace is God's gift. Therefore, we become humble before the face of the Lord in order to beg Him to send a gift of peace for this land, and especially for the eastern part of Ukraine, bearing the kindness and love of the brothers and sisters who live there,” he added.

Cardinal Turkson has called for the opening of hearts, communities, churches for suffering brethren and sisters. “We pray for peace in Ukraine. We pray to be able to convey His love and charity to those who are in that part of the country where there is no peace. Let us ask God to bless the Father and the Head of the UGCC, the President and Head of the Government of your country,” invoked Pope Francis’ legate.

At the end of the Prayer for Peace, Bishop Bohdan mentioned the invitation that the representatives of the Catholic Church in Ukraine have repeatedly conveyed to the Holy Father, to visit his spiritual children in Ukraine on a pastoral visit – to visit “this people and this land that are so dear to the Holy Father.”

As a sign of gratitude for the visit and for caring for those who suffer from the war in Ukraine, the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC presented to Cardinal Turkson an Easter egg with the image of St. Nicholas, “who is the embodiment of Divine Kindness”, and also handed over two drawings drawn by children from one of the villages in Luhansk region, where assistance was provided within the framework of the Pope for Ukraine Initiative.

Then all the worship participants prayed in the crypt, where His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar) rests; and Cardinal Turkson shared his personal memories of the deceased Primate of the UGCC. “He was devoid of physical eyesight, but with his spiritual sight he could reach very far – up to Paradise, to the house of the Father of Heaven,” said the high guest.

This was reported by the Department of Information of the UGCC.