Ukraine Celebrates 35 Years of Latin Rite Restoration
Today, July 19, marks the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of the Latin Rite Catholic Church in Ukraine. Celebrations are taking place at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Scapular in Berd…
Today, July 19, marks the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of the Latin Rite Catholic Church in Ukraine. Celebrations are taking place at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Scapular in Berdychiv, with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher present as the Pope's special envoy.
Speaking to Vatican Media on the anniversary, Father Pavlo Khomiak, Director of the Institute for Ecclesiastical Studies and a member of the pontifical mission to Ukraine led by Archbishop Gallagher, reflected on the significance of the celebration. "The 35th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of the Latin Rite Catholic Church in Ukraine is not merely a historical commemoration but a sign of the Church community's spiritual resilience and living memory," he stated.
Recalling the Catholic Church's presence in Ukraine since the 10th century, Father Khomiak cited historical sources that document Princess Olga's invitation to Catholic clergy in Kyiv as evidence of the Church's early contribution to the formation of the Ukrainian state. He emphasized that the restoration of ecclesiastical structures did not merely signify "repairing" something from the past; rather, it marked a rebirth in a new historical era. "The Catholic Church never ceased to exist in Ukraine. Although it suffered severe restrictions and was deprived of many of its rights, it always maintained its institutional continuity," he noted.
The restoration of the Latin Catholic hierarchy on January 16, 1991, by then-Pope John Paul II was described by Father Khomiak as the culmination of a long historical process. He remarked that this pivotal event opened a new chapter in the Church's life, coinciding just months before Ukraine proclaimed its independence on August 24 of that year. "Since then, many churches have been returned and reopened. Cultural and educational initiatives have flourished. Priests and consecrated men and women have participated in rebuilding social life," he added.
