A delegation of the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (Eat), headed by its president, Mons. Mariano Crociata, will make an official visit to Ukraine from July 16 to 18.
The objective of the visit, as reported by the Eat, is to express its “continuous closeness with the Ukrainian people and their solidarity with whom they are affected by the current war of aggression by Russia.”
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During the three days of visiting, the European bishops will meet with representatives of the Greco-Catholic Church and the Catholic Church of Latin Rite in Ukraine, as well as with figures of politics, humanitarian and local academics.
In addition, these meetings are intended to “testify to the immense human suffering, manifested in thousands of civilians and soldiers dead or injured, in the breakdown of family and social life”, as well as in the destruction of vital infrastructure throughout the Ukrainian territory.
European prelates also conceive this gesture as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship with the Catholic Church of Rito Latino and the Greco-Catholic Church in Ukraine, which have recently obtained the status of observer in the Eat Assembly.
The delegation of this organism will also address the situation of Ukrainian young people, listening to their daily struggles for making their dreams and aspirations of the future a reality in the midst of the ongoing conflict.
To express “the tireless efforts of civil society and religious organizations in supporting those who suffer the consequences of war”, they will also visit some centers that offer psychosocial support to those who have lost relatives, as well as institutions that develop educational and cultural initiatives.
The experiences and testimonies collected at the local level will serve to reinforce the incidence tools of Eat in the promotion of an integral, fair and lasting peace in Ukraine, through their mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union, it is read in the statement.
In addition to Mons. Mariano Crociata, the delegation will be composed of Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, general secretary, and Marek Mišák, an advisor for EU Foreign Relations.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
Graduated in journalism and advertising from the CEU San Pablo University of Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. It has been a senior correspondent for ACI Press and Ewtn News at the Vatican for two years and is currently a correspondent for Europe based on Spain.