Pope Accepts Invitation to Visit Ukraine, Says Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Pope Francis has accepted an invitation to visit Ukraine, but no specific date has been set, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, said in an interview with Radio Svoboda on December 26. 

"There is no [date for the visit] yet, but Pope Francis sometimes likes to surprise. He can announce a visit just a month before he decides to come to Ukraine. So we enter this new year with hope. With hope that just peace will prevail in Ukraine," Shevchuk added. 

On December 15, during a prayer Pope Francis referred to Russia and Ukraine as brothers, reiterating his calls for peace in Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

Earlier, Pope Francis made a direct appeal to political leaders and the international community, urging them to “establish ceasefires all around the world ahead of Christmas.”