Seven Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishops Meet in Madrid to Discuss Pastoral Care and Cooperation with Spanish Church

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops gathered in Madrid for a meeting with Spanish church leaders, marking a significant moment for the community of Eastern Catholics in Spain. Seven bishops, led by Major Archbishop Sviateslav Shevchuk, traveled from Germany, the United States, Poland, and Ukraine to participate in the permanent Synod of their church. The bishops included Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh, representing Greek-Catholics in Germany and Scandinavia, and Archbishop Boris Gudziak, who oversees Ukrainian communities in the U.S. and works to support Ukraine through fundraising.

Luis Argüello, president of the Spanish bishops’ conference, welcomed the delegation at the Episcopal Conference in Madrid. He emphasized the importance of pastoral care for Ukrainians in Spain, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Argüello spoke of the challenges faced by refugees and the cooperation between Ukrainian Greek Catholics and the Spanish Church during times of crisis. He assured the bishops of continued support for both Ukrainian communities in Spain and those suffering from the war’s effects.

Shevchuk noted that there are currently 36 priests serving in 78 parishes and missions across Spain, all under the Byzantine rite. He highlighted the presence of over half a million Ukrainians in Spain, with 250,000 of them having arrived as refugees since the Russian invasion began. However, only about 10% of these Ukrainians are Greek Catholics, as many come from less religious regions of Ukraine.

Ukrainians are the largest Eastern Catholic community in Spain, surpassing other groups such as the Romanian Greek Catholics, Syro-Malabars, and Maronites. These communities, though smaller in number, maintain significant presence and contribute to the diverse religious landscape of the country.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in Spain is overseen by an Ordinariate of Eastern Churches, established by Pope Francis ten years ago. This structure allows for better pastoral care and resource management, with Cardinal Joseph Cobo currently serving as the Ordinary. The Ordinariate reflects the growing need for coordinated support among Eastern Catholic communities in Spain, especially in times of conflict and migration.

The gathering in Madrid underscores the resilience and adaptability of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Spain, as it continues to serve a growing number of faithful while navigating the complexities of war, migration, and inter-church cooperation. The bishops’ visit highlights the ongoing commitment to pastoral care and the shared responsibility of the Catholic Church in supporting those in need.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)