Ukrainian Ambassador Reflects On Historic Papal Visit

VATICAN, Jul 9, 01 (CWNews.com) - The Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See has said that the Pope's visit to his country was a historic event of unique importance.

"There has never been another event, in the history of the Ukrainian media, that has been followed the way this was," said Nina Kovalska, in an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. "The words that he spoke left a deep mark on the souls of the people."

"The fact that he spoke to us in excellent Ukrainian was touching to many people," the ambassador added. "He also showed a profound grasp of Ukrainian history, in particular of our darkest hours."

In a country where the Orthodox faith has traditionally been dominatn, Kovalska said, the Pope called for respect for religious freedom, and for a mutual respect that would "know no borders separating one from another."

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update
9. juli 2001