Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Pope heads to Ukraine . . . finally

VATICAN CITY — Over the strong objections of the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope John Paul will visit Ukraine this week, hoping once again that gestures of respect will succeed where dialogue has not.

However, the pope is not scheduled to meet with any Orthodox leaders, let alone lead a prayer service with them.

In Ukraine, Pope John Paul will balance his remarks on two subjects he feels strongly about: ecumenism and martyrdom.

The primary purpose of the June 23-27 trip, said papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, is to pay tribute to "a Church which suffered in an indescribable way for years. These people have a right to welcome the pope."

Under communism, the activity of Latin-rite Catholics was severely restricted.

The country's much larger Ukrainian Catholic Church was outlawed altogether. All of its bishops were arrested and Church property was either used by the government or given to the Russian Orthodox. Many clerics were martyred or died in prison. The priests, religious and faithful who escaped arrest or deportation were forced to practise their faith secretly.

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