Ukraine Orthodox Priests Protest Pope Visit

KIEV, Jun 7, 01 (CWNews.com) - Several hundred Orthodox priests marched in Ukraine's capital on Thursday to protest the upcoming visit of Pope John Paul II later this month.

The Moscow-linked branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, one of three separate Orthodox groups warring for support and official recognition in the country, has accused the Catholic Church of stealing believers and property. Catholics respond that the Soviets confiscated Catholic property in the 1940s and the Church simply wants the return of the buildings.

The protesters marched through central Kiev to the parliament building with signs saying the Pope is not welcome in the former Soviet republic. The march was similar to virulent protests by hardliner Orthodox monks in Greece prior to the Pope's visit there in May. That visit was deemed a success with the formerly skeptical Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos ending the trip by joining in prayer with the Pope.

The Pope is due to fly to Kiev on June 23 before heading to Lviv in western Ukraine, which is the population center of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Authorities expect around two million people to turn out for the visit.

Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
7. juni 2001