On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, Archbishop Vitalij Skomarovskyi, president of the Conference of Latin-Rite Bishops in Ukraine, gave an interview to Vatican media in which he described the country’s current reality, marked by war and hope sustained by international solidarity.
The prelate, who is also bishop of Lutsk, recalled that although 35 years is a brief period in Ukraine’s thousand-year history, for his generation it has been an intense and eventful time: from the economic crisis of the 1990s, through recovery, to the conflict that began in 2014 and escalated into full-scale aggression in 2022.
Religious freedom and current challenges
Skomarovskyi stressed that after independence, Ukrainians enjoy true freedom of conscience, guaranteed by the Constitution and lived out daily. He contrasted this with the Soviet era, when, although the Constitution formally recognized that right, the Church and religion were persecuted for ideological reasons, with believers imprisoned or professionally marginalized.
The archbishop also noted that although churches are now open and there are no obstacles to professing one’s faith, there has been a decline in the number of seminarians. He explained that in the past, state-imposed barriers filtered candidates, whereas now, with greater freedom, many young people who begin the vocational path discover that it is not their calling.
The human cost of defense
Regarding the sacrifice of Ukrainian soldiers, the bishop said that although many wish to live and hope to survive, they are forced to defend their homeland because there is no one else to do it. He described defense as a natural act of protecting the common home, and acknowledged that the price paid is high, but the threat is even greater.
The prelate shared that the war has revealed to him a reality very different from what he had imagined through books or films. Quoting Saint John Paul II, he called war a great scourge and stressed that peace is an invaluable gift that is especially appreciated when it is lacking.
Context and relevance
Finally, Skomarovskyi highlighted the extraordinary solidarity that Ukraine has received from around the world, both material and spiritual. He stated that this closeness, which springs from people’s hearts, is an immense gift that gives strength and hope to the Ukrainian people. He concluded by asking for prayers that the war may end soon.
Original source: www.vaticannews.va (published on August 24, 2026)
