In his arrival address at the
Boryspil International Airport, Kyiv, 23 June 2001, the Holy Father
recalls the history of the Faith in Ukraine, and reassures the Orthodox
he's not come to proselytize, but to bear common witness with fellow
Christians to Christ. Also included, his prayer to Our Lady of Zarvaniza
at the Church of St Nicholas.
Meeting With Representatives of Political
Life, Culture, Science and Business
In a meeting, 23 June 2001, at the presidential palace in Kyiv, with
the president,
representatives of government, and authorities of Ukrainian culture and
science, the Holy Father
and western. And he
gives paternal admonitions on points of particular concern.
Meeting With Representatives of the
All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations
Addressing the Churches and other Religious Organizations of
Ukraine, 24 June 2001, at the National Philharmonic in Kyiv, the Holy
Father praises their common commitment to spiritual and religious
values, "which are indispensable for the building of a genuinely
free and democratic society." He reminds them that
"Christianity is an inseparable part of your civil, cultural and
religious identity!"
Divine Liturgy (Byzantine Rite) at Kyiv
In his homily at Chayka Airport, 25 June 2001, the Holy Father calls
for a fulfillment of the Savior's words in the Upper Room, "that
they may all be one," in the reunion of Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
Holy Mass (Latin Rite) and Beatifications
On 26 June 2001, at the Hippodrome, Lviv, the Holy Father beatified
the servants of God, Józef Bilczewski and Zygmunt Gorazdowski, whose
lives were an unceasing response to Our Lady's call for obedience to
herSon, "Do whatever he tells you."
Meeting With Young People of Ukraine
In his meeting with the youth of Ukraine, before the Nativity of the
Mother of God Church in Lviv, the Holy Father reminds young people that
the future of their country depends on them. Recently freed from a
totalitarian regime, they should know that true freedom is to avoid sin
and heed the Lord's "words of eternal life."
Divine Liturgy (Byzantine Rite) With
Beatifications
In his beatification homily, 27 June 2001, at the Hippodrome, Lviv,
the Holy Father honors 28 Ukrainian Greek-Catholics, who died for the
Faith, as examples of the "highest measure of service of God and of
the Church." "They have shown that love is stronger than
death."
Farewell Address to the People of Ukraine
In bidding farewell, 27 June 2001, at the International Airport in
Lviv, the Holy Father urged Ukraine to become a part of Europe, whose
historical role and capability of "spreading civilization"
depends on the sharing of the "complementary values" of the
peoples of East and West.