On 24 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a new law that aims to deny Russia one of its major avenues of influence. The law explicitly bans the Russian Orthodox Church, which has long been entangled with the Russian security state, in Ukraine. However, in a more contentious move, the law also banned religious entities Read more
Posts Tagged ‘President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’
Ukrainian Catholic priests freed from Russian captivity
Monday, July 1st, 2024Two disappeared Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests seized by Russian forces from their church in Berdyansk in November 2022 have been released after months of captivity, according to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Redemptorist Fathers Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta, who served at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Berdyansk, were among Read more
Pope’s ‘white flag’ comment sparks criticism from Ukraine and allies
Monday, March 11th, 2024
Pope Francis’ recent remark urging Kyiv to show the “courage of the white flag” has drawn criticism from Ukrainian and allied officials. Many perceive the statement as a call for Ukraine to surrender in its conflict with Russia. In an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, Francis advocated for peace talks brokered by Read more
Ukraine officially moves Christmas observance to Dec 25
Thursday, August 3rd, 2023Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed into law a bill moving the official observance of Christmas Day to Dec 25 from Jan 7, when Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church mark the holiday. Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, approved the measure — which also adjusts the dates of the Day of Ukrainian Statehood and the Read more
Pope’s Ukraine envoy wraps up whirlwind diplomatic visit to DC
Monday, July 24th, 2023Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Francis’s personal peace envoy for the war in Ukraine, closed a two-day visit to Washington DC Wednesday, capping a whirlwind round of high-level civil and ecclesial meetings. Zuppi was in Washington DC from July 17-19 along with an unnamed representative of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State to “continue the mission Read more
Italian cardinal entrusted with Ukraine peace mission
Monday, May 22nd, 2023
Pope Francis has entrusted Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (pictured) to head the Russia and Ukraine peace mission on behalf of the Vatican, the Holy See press office said on Saturday. Zuppi is a prominent Italian cardinal known for his close association with the pontiff. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni announced the development on Saturday, revealing that the Read more