Pope Arrives In Ukraine

KIEV, Jun 23, 01 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II arrived in Kiev this afternoon to begin the 94th foreign trip of his pontificate: a trip that could have enormous impact on the future of ecumenical relations with the Eastern churches.

The Holy Father arrived at Boryspil airport outside Kiev just after noon, following a 3-hour flight from Rome. He was greeted by Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and by the leaders of the Ukrainian Church: Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, the Major Archbishop of Lviv for the Ukrainian rite, and Cardinal Marian Jaworski, the Latin-rite Archbishop of Lviv.

In his first remarks at the welcoming ceremony, the Pope said that he had come to Ukraine, "the cradle of Christian culture for the whole of Eastern Europe," in order to pay homage to the "brave and determined witness" of the Christians there. "What an immense burden of suffering you have had to endure!" he said.

The Pope also set the stage for his ecumenical efforts, saying that he was confident his visit would be "welcomed with friendship by those who-while they are not Catholics- are open to dialogue and cooperation."

Pope John Paul also made a now-familiar gesture, acknowledging that the Catholics have sometimes been harsh in their treatment of their Orthodox neighbors. He suggested: "As we ask forgiveness for the errors of the distant and even more recent past, let us also offer forgiveness for the wrongs we have suffered."

While some Orthodox leaders have been distinctly cool toward the papal visit, the state television station plans ample coverage. The four major liturgical celebrations of the papal visit-including two different beatification ceremonies-will be carried live.

Journalists covering the papal trip have found it difficult to arrange for hotel space, since the available rooms in Kiev and Lviv have been booked for months. Even visiting dignitaries are searching for space.

The city of Kiev has a rich Christian history. It was here, in the year 988, that Prince Vladimir was baptized, and the people of the region-known as the Rus-became Christians. Centuries later a Tatar invasion drove the headquarters of the Christian community to Moscow, where the Russian Orthodox Church emerged. Russian Orthodox leaders still consider Ukraine as part of their "canonical territory," and object to Catholic activity there.

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
23. juni 2000