Major Archbishop Shevchuk: Freedom must never be taken for granted - Vatican News
Sarah Davis ·
· News about the Church
As Ukraine marks 35 years of independence, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church speaks of the suffering caused by war and renews his appeal for solidarity from all nations. He recalls that July 2026 was the bloodiest month of four and a half years of war, with many civilian casualties. In the face of such cruelty, he emphasizes that freedom is a gift and must never be taken for granted. On August 24, Church leaders in Ukraine will gather before the Kyiv Oranta at Saint Sophia Cathedral to pray for peace, and he invites all to join in prayer and humanitarian solidarity.