Archbishop Gallagher visits bombed sites in Kyiv, encourages prayer for peace

By Roberto Paglialonga – Kyiv

There are places of suffering that inevitably become part of a nation’s collective memory. Bucha, Irpin, and Vorzel will remain forever etched in the minds and hearts of Ukrainians—and of many others. Their names have become symbols of the horrors unleashed by Russia’s invasion in February 2022, a war that still shows no sign of ending or offering any tangible prospect of hope. Kyiv bears countless reminders of the brutality of violence and hatred. The third day of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher’s mission to Ukraine, on Saturday, July 18, was devoted to visiting places that have come under attack over the past years—and in recent months—but where, despite everything, there remains a determination to rebuild. Rebuilding what is essential: the foundations of churches and buildings destroyed by bombs; the wounded spirits of the vulnerable and of children; and the human and social fabric of communities united by faith.

Archbishop Gallagher visiting St. Nicholas Church

Prayer for peace at St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv

In the morning, Archbishop Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, visited St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv, where he was welcomed by the parish priest, Fr. Pavlo Vyshkovsky, OMI, and members of the congregation.

The church had been struck by a Russian missile in December 2024. The blast shattered its windows and caused extensive damage to the interior. It is now undergoing restoration and, thanks in part to diplomatic efforts involving the Holy See, has recently been returned by the Ukrainian authorities for the use of the Latin Catholic community. Archbishop Gallagher, who had also visited the parish during his first trip to Ukraine in 2022, entered the church to the sound of hymns and organ music. Together with the parish priest, other clergy, and the faithful, he recited a prayer in Ukrainian for peace in Ukraine and for an end to the war.

“To achieve this goal,” Archbishop Gallagher told those gathered, “one important quality is needed, and I already see it in you: the virtue of perseverance.” “You have persevered in your daily lives, in your love for your country, and in your constant prayers for peace. Perseverance is also a defining characteristic of our Catholic community. You have remained steadfast as a Eucharistic and prayerful community, and I can already see the fruits of that perseverance. I also see the progress being made under the guidance of your parish priest.”

Sunflowers presented as a gift to Archbishop Gallagher

The gift of an Icon that survived an air raid

“There will undoubtedly continue to be problems and difficulties,” the Archbishop continued, “but I see that you are strong in faith, hope, and charity. In that spirit, I greet you in the name of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. There is not a single day when he does not pray for Ukraine and for you, men and women of faith. I also ask you to pray for him, and I hope that one day you will have the joy of welcoming him here in Kyiv.”

Before imparting his blessing, Archbishop Gallagher received a special gift. A married couple and another woman, all dressed in white, presented him with two bouquets of sunflowers—”flowers that symbolize Ukraine and so many of its dead,” they explained—along with an icon of the Holy Family.

Two weeks earlier, their apartment had been destroyed during one of Moscow’s heavy air raids. The icon, however, had remained untouched. “For us, this is a symbol of hope,” they said. They also thanked the Holy See and the Apostolic Nuncio for the support and assistance they have provided throughout the war.

At the conclusion of the visit, Fr. Pavlo told Vatican Media of his “great joy at embracing Archbishop Gallagher once again, four years after his first visit to Kyiv, and at receiving his affection and closeness to our community.”

Apartment buildings ripped apart by missile strikes on Bratstva Tarasivtsiv Street

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Visit to a residential district bombed in May

The delegation then traveled to Bratstva Tarasivtsiv Street, where a Russian attack on May 14 killed 24 people, including three children, and injured at least ten others. There, Archbishop  Gallagher met local authorities, emergency responders, and representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who continue to provide humanitarian assistance, psychosocial support, and post-trauma recovery programs. After hearing detailed accounts of the attack and speaking with rescue workers and UN personnel about the ongoing challenges, Archbishop Gallagher visited a memorial established in front of the destroyed apartment buildings.

A local UNHCR official explained: “It is important to understand that since June of this year alone, 300 civilians have been killed and thousands injured—the highest number recorded since 2022.” At the foot of a large tree, relatives and friends had placed stuffed animals, toys, photographs, and other mementos to preserve the memory of those who lost their lives. The UN representative added: “We are seeing Russia’s growing frustration increasingly directed at civilians, with immediate and long-term consequences, especially for children and young people.” Many of them continue to suffer from severe stress and psychological trauma caused by the repeated bombardments.

A memorial made of stuffed animals commemorates the children killed in the bombings

Damage to the Dominican Institute of Theology

The delegation’s next stop was the St. Thomas Aquinas Dominican Institute of Theology, where they were welcomed by the Dominican superior in Ukraine, Fr. Jaroslaw Krawiec. In May of this year, missiles and drones struck buildings near the institute, destroying homes, the local market square, and a Ukrainian arms manufacturing facility. Shrapnel slammed into the Dominican residence, destroying windows and doors and causing significant internal damage. 

“When the blast wave hits, it is devastating,” Fr. Krawiec explained, showing the remains of a drone in the courtyard. “Its effects can be felt hundreds of meters from the point of impact.” “We are deeply grateful that Archbishop Gallagher has been able to visit us and witness firsthand the consequences of these attacks. This is an important center for Catholic education and for the life of many Latin Rite faithful in Ukraine. More than one hundred students study here, and not all of them are Catholics.”  He expressed gratitude to friends, benefactors, and everyone who has helped rebuild what was destroyed. “The most terrible thing in war,” he concluded, “is to feel alone—to feel that no one stands in solidarity with you.”

Archbishop Gallagher during his visit Kyiv

Visit to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

Later on Saturday, Archbishop Gallagher visited the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine’s oldest Orthodox monastery and one of the country’s most important symbols of Christian history and spiritual identity. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was struck during a Russian attack on the night of June 14–15, 2026. The roof of the Cathedral of the Dormition sustained the most serious damage but has since been repaired.