In Kiev, Orthodox protest rumored plan for papal visit to Ukraine
December 09, 2015
A group of Orthodox faithful in Ukraine picketed the offices of the Vatican’s envoy in Kiev on December 6, protesting the possibility of a papal visit to their country.
During a November 20 visit to the Vatican, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko issued an invitation for Pope Francis to visit, and reported that the Pontiff had accepted the invitation in principle. The Vatican has not confirmed plans for such a papal visit.
Catholic-Orthodox relations are historically tense in Ukraine. The Moscow Patriarchate claims the country as its “canonical territory,” and regularly complains about Catholic “proselytism.” The Eastern-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church, which has emerged energetically from decades of oppression under Communism, has also been a focus of Moscow’s complaints.
On December 6, a group of several hundred Orthodox prayed the Way of the Cross through the streets of Kiev, ending at the office of the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti. They delivered a message to the nuncio, protesting the projected papal visit. “A visit to the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church without her consent is a violation of ecclesiastical norms,” they said.
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Posted by: Gregory108 -
Dec. 09, 2015 8:40 PM ET USA
Without WHOSE consent? This is Kiev! Ukraine! Not Russia! Who made Ukraine Russia's canonical territory? Some Russian guy with a mitre declares himself boss of Ukraine, and everyone obeys? Whose rules are these? If he can declare himself Religious Chief of Ukraine, I can declare myself King of Siam and Chief Judge of the World. He has no more claim to being Religious Leader of all of Ukraine, including apparently the Catholics, than I do! UKRAINIAN president invites; Russian FOREIGNER: silence!
