To mark the occasion, Archbishop Renato Boccardo traveled to Lviv. Now head of the Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia, he was responsible 25 years ago, on behalf of the Vatican Secretariat of State, for organizing the Pope’s visit. He presided over Mass at the parish dedicated to St John Paul II.
Homily and Prayer for Ukraine
In his homily, Archbishop Boccardo spoke of the spiritual witness of the Polish Pope. He said it was a witness of unwavering faith, courage, and total dedication to the Lord. He emphasized that the Polish Pope carried out his ministry despite a serious and progressive illness, bearing witness to suffering in union with Christ.
Archbishop Boccardo noted that John Paul II’s long pontificate was one of new paths of dialogue and of overcoming divisions. He also referred to the historic words spoken by St John Paul II at the inauguration of his pontificate in 1978: “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ.”
At the end of the service, prayers were offered for the Church and the Ukrainian nation, asking for the intercession of St John Paul II.
Among those taking part in the service were the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lviv, Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki; the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas; the president of the Ukrainian episcopate, Bishop Vitaliy Skomarovskyi; and the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk.
Family News Service / Piotr Kowalczuk
photo by joaoaugustof, pixabay.com