Catholics could ‘disappear’ from the land, warns nuncio

The Vatican’s nuncio to Ukraine has warned that the Catholic presence in the country could be sharply reduced in the face of Russian “persecution”, writes Jonathan Luxmoore.

“If the country remains de­stabilised, we may see the Roman Catholic presence in Ukraine practically disappear – as it is, it’s small and in danger, but how can parents ask their children to stay in a country with no prospects?” Archbishop Thomas Gullickson told Vatican Radio. “The Greek Catholic Church is even more at risk, but for different reasons – in terms of persecution from the side of Russia and others who’ve never accepted the reality of this beautiful Church.” Christians make up one-third of the 46 ­million population with 26 per cent of Ukrainians Eastern Orthodox and 6 per cent Catholic. Of these, 90 per cent are Greek Catholic and 10 per cent Latin (Roman).

The US-born nuncio was speaking as fighting continued between pro-Russia separatists and Ukrainian Government forces around the rebel-held ­eastern cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, and Russia’s Defence Ministry announced new military exercises on the Ukrainian border. The Greek and Latin Catholic Churches had “placed themselves at the service of the Ukrainian people”, the archbishop said, but they had faced “danger” because of the “undeclared war”.

“The Christian presence in Ukraine is one of the most import­ant in Europe today,” Archbishop Gullickson said. Andrij Waskowycz, head of Caritas Ukraine, called the destruction in Eastern Ukraine “enormous” and pleaded for help from the international community.