Prelate: St. John Paul was like Moses for the Ukrainians

July 07, 2015

In an interview with a Polish journalist, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church compared Pope St. John Paul II to a Moses whose words helped liberate the Church in Ukraine.

“He spoke on behalf of the silent Church, as Catholics were called in the Soviet Union,” said Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. “He was like Moses, who spoke to Pharaoh: ‘Let my people go.’”

“I remember the people then said [that] if the Pope stepped with his foot onto Ukrainian soil, then Communism will never come back here,” the prelate added. “We can say that His visit to Ukraine secured religious freedom in our country. His call to ‘Fear not!’ remains more relevant and strong in Ukraine, especially today.”

 

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Further information:

• The Head of the UGCC: "I never thought that the words of John Paul II concerning me would be prophetic" (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)