The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) joins the global Catholic community in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.
His connection with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) was shaped by his early mentorship under Ukrainian priest Stefan Czmil.
In a show of support and recognition, he elevated Bishop Mykola Bychok of the UGCC Eparchy of Melbourne to Cardinal in December 2024 — a proud moment for the Ukrainian Catholic community worldwide, and especially here in Australia.
In his final public appearance on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine: “May the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace.”
Rest in peace, Pope Francis. Vichnaya Pamyat – Eternal Memory.
