Bishop of Kyiv Monsignor Krivitskiy meeting a class – From Facebook profile
“It would be an immense pleasure to welcome Pope Francis to Kyiv. But at the moment I believe that there are no conditions for the visit». His voice is calm Bishop Vitaliy Krivitskyy. Since 2017 he has been leading exactly according to the will of Pope Bergoglio the Diocese of Kyiv-Žytomyr: Population 8 million, with Latin Rite Catholics numbering just over 200,000. When he talks about the war from the Ukrainian capital, he not only speaks of bombings, casualties or occupied territories, but also of a “climate of hatred and resentment that has infected people’s hearts”. And he immediately adds: “We feel it in conversations, dialogues, even in the confessional. As pastors, it is not easy to accompany our people when the pressure of the struggles is still felt and when pain or divisions tear the soul and public opinion. There is a thirst for revenge not only among those who stayed here, but also among those who fled abroad. Invoking the God of peace here means asking both that his mighty hand end the conflict and that he heal the wounds of the spirit caused by a tragedy like this ».
Vitaliy Krivitskiy, Latin Bishop of Kyiv – From Facebook profile
Bishop Krivitskiy, originally from Odessa, turns 50 in August. A Salesian, he met the institute founded by Don Bosco during the years of the Soviet regime, when he began his “clandestine” formation. He became a priest in Poland, although his entire priestly ministry was based in Ukraine. “There is a feeling that Moscow wants to conquer our entire country or maybe even destroy it completely. It is an imperial ideology that dominates the actions of the Kremlin.”
Excellency, the Pope has confirmed that he wants to be in Ukraine and will do so as soon as the situation allows him. Can one speculate when?
I would say no The intention of the Pope to be in the midst of a suffering people is a reason for great hope for us Catholics, beginning with me Bishop. We feel his closeness, manifested in his repeated calls for a ceasefire and in concrete gestures that have also led to several humanitarian aid dispatches. And then there is his constant prayer, involving the whole Church. His visit would give us further encouragement, but he needs such high security measures that we cannot guarantee as long as the attacks continue and our soldiers are all on the front line to defend the nation. It should be added that, compared to the beginning of the conflict, part of the population did not welcome some of the Pope’s statements that were considered false. So it is also necessary to reconstruct a “consensus” around his journey. All of this leads me to say that it takes time.
Can the Pope help end the conflict?
Certainly. The Holy See can play a fundamental role as a mediator between us and Russia. Negotiations need “conciliators” and the Pope does, although some here no longer consider him super partes. I am sure that the Pope and all Vatican diplomacy are sowing the seeds to create an environment of dialogue, which is a prerequisite for starting negotiations.
The Bishop of Kyiv in front of a congregation – From the Facebook profile
The missiles keep falling. Also on Kyiv.
A few days ago we were woken up by the bombing. Luckily none of our believers were hurt, although they told us they saw the windows of their houses shattered by the blasts. However, at least in the capital, the atmosphere is less tense, even if the nightmare of war looms every day. From a psychological point of view, the weight is enormous. However, there are some small positive signs. One is the “counter-exodus,” if we can call it that. Those who left our cities at the beginning of the Russian invasion are returning. There are also employment opportunities. But the majority of the population is in serious trouble due to severe economic conditions and rising prices. So if, on the one hand, life is renewed in the territories of the diocese, on the other hand, the effects of the war are very severe.
What does Putin want from Ukraine?
He wants to stop her. She cannot bear that she has become self-employed and has gone through a development phase. This war has been prepared for years, even with a massive information campaign that has distorted our history and trampled on our identity. It happens that Ukrainian families have relatives in Russia. And they tell us what happened. It is not surprising that in the face of such energetic ideological hammering, anger against our country has risen.
The Bishop of Kyiv during a celebration – From the Facebook profile
Moscow Patriarch Kirill supports the attack. A “holy” prop?
Not only the Christian communities in Ukraine, but all religious realities have condemned Kirill’s statements. War is never fair. And any religious leader who advocates aggression in a country should undergo serious soul-searching.
In Ukraine, some Orthodox communities affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate have “split off” in recent weeks. How to read this election?
The picture of Orthodoxy in Ukraine is complex. There are scholars for whom no real separation occurred with the birth of the new autocephalous church, the Pzu. In fact, there are two churches: the Pzu, and then the Upz, associated with the Moscow Patriarchate. As Catholics, we do not address these questions. However, we find that the differences do not allow for reunification. Will there be a third Orthodox denomination that will be able to reunite the two separated churches? Impossible to say. But we can confirm that this situation seriously affects the ecumenical journey.
The Bishop of Kyiv brings humanitarian aid – From the Facebook profile
And how does the Catholic Church embrace people during the war?
We are called to recognize the signs of the times. And today they show us a people who are being imposed with the concept of the enemy. As Catholics, we need to build bridges. First of all, among the divided families. Divided because there are people who have relatives in Russia and the conflict separated them. Uniformed because there are people who have seen fathers or children go to the front while their wives and little boys stayed at home. Uniforms because there are those who fled abroad. Our other area of action is that of charity. We are close to those who fail and distribute basic needs to all who are tested, without distinction of passport or creed.
The “wheat war” is also being fought, which cannot be exported due to the blockade of ports.
This is a food crisis that will affect many countries and shows that the ongoing war is not just about Ukraine. I don’t know if this grain paralysis was planned by Putin. If he didn’t want to, he couldn’t see past his nose. If he designed it on purpose, it’s a story that complicates his responsibility.