Cardinal Parolin to Ukraine: ‘Nothing is impossible for God’

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Even though our hopes may be diminished, all things are possible with God who is greater than us and our abilities…

This is the comforting reminder that the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave on Sunday, July 21, at the end of his visit to the seat of the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Major Archbishop of kyiv-Halych, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Chevchuk.

Cardinal Parolin’s visit to Ukraine

Cardinal Parolin’s visit to Ukraine, from July 19 to 24, follows his appointment as papal legate for the closing celebration of the pilgrimage of Ukrainian Catholics of the Latin rite, to the Marian shrine of Berdychiv.

The cardinal’s visit marks his first to the Eastern European country since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2024.

The Secretary of State expressed gratitude for being at the seat of the Major Archbishop, “father and head” of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and for the “significant progress” that has been made there since Parolin’s visit in 2016.

Praying together with faith

Cardinal Parolin acknowledged: “Obviously, the moment in which I am visiting Ukraine is not pleasant, because we are all aware of the situation,” but that, in any case, he went “to pray together and to pray with you.”

This official of the Holy See recalled, as he had already done during his stay in the country, that the Church has “a prophetic role” to play, following the example of the prophet Elijah.

“We must call for a great prayer for peace, rooted in the belief that all things are possible with God,” he said.

“Even though our hopes are finite and limited,” he continued, “we know that God is greater than ourselves, than our hearts and than our abilities.”

Bringing the Pope closer

With this comforting reminder, the cardinal reiterated: “The message that I bring from the Pope is a message of closeness.”

Recalling that Pope Francis has repeatedly recalled over the years the suffering of this war-torn country, including during his July 21 Angelus address to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, the cardinal noted: “From the beginning, the pope has shown immense closeness and participation in the pain and suffering of this people.”

Desire for peace and resolution of war

Cardinal Parolin stressed that his physical presence in the country “adds a ‘living’ aspect to this papal presence,” which “shares the pain,” but, above all, “wants to help open paths to peace” and “towards a resolution of this war.”

“I hope that my presence here,” he said, “can make a small contribution in this direction.”

Cardinal Parolin concluded his speech by reiterating how “sincerely happy” he was to be there and to share this important moment together.