Pope says collaboration can help Ukraine's Eastern, Latin rites

Published: 2007-09-27

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Banding together to bring the Gospel to post-communist Ukraine can help Eastern- and Latin-rite Catholic communities overcome their difficulties, Pope Benedict XVI said. "Even among Catholics collaboration does not always come easily," the pope said, noting it was "normal (that) different sensibilities emerge, also given the diversity" of the Eastern- and Latin-rite traditions. But he urged the two communities to work together and be an "eloquent sign" of unity to other Christians and the whole of Ukraine, still struggling with its post-communist past. The pope made his remarks Sept. 27 to Latin-rite bishops from the Ukraine who were in Rome for their "ad limina" visits, in which they travel to the Vatican every five years to report on the status of their dioceses. Although Eastern bishops are not required to make "ad limina" visits, Pope Benedict held a Sept. 24 audience with Ukrainian bishops from both rites after inviting some of the Eastern-rite bishops to the Vatican to discuss the issue of cooperation between the two rites, according to Vatican Radio. The Ukrainian Catholic Church, an Eastern rite, is fully in union with Rome but has maintained the liturgical and spiritual heritage shared with the Orthodox churches.

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