Ukraine: 35 years since the rebirth of the Latin Rite Catholic Church

By Sr. Alina Petrauskaite and Svitlana Dukhovych

Today, Sunday, July 19, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Scapular in Berdychiv is hosting celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of the Latin Rite Catholic Church in Ukraine. For the occasion, Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, as his Special Envoy. Speaking to Vatican Media on the anniversary, Father Pavlo Khomiak, Director of the Institute for Ecclesiastical Studies and a member of the pontifical mission to Ukraine led by Archbishop Gallagher, reflected on the significance of the occasion. “The 35th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of the Latin Rite Catholic Church in Ukraine is not merely a historical commemoration, but a sign of the Church community’s spiritual resilience and living memory.”

Recalling that the Catholic Church has been present in Ukraine since the 10th century, Father Khomiak cited historical sources documenting Princess Olga’s invitation to Catholic clergy to Kyiv, as evidence of the Church’s early contribution to the formation of the Ukrainian state. In his view, the restoration of ecclesiastical structures did not mean “repairing” something belonging to the past, but rather marked a rebirth in a new historical era. “The Catholic Church never ceased to exist in Ukraine. Although it suffered severe restrictions and was deprived of many of its rights, it always maintained its institutional continuity.”

A rebirth prepared by history

On January 16, 1991, Pope John Paul II restored the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine by appointing bishops for the Archdiocese of Lviv and the dioceses of Zhytomyr and Kamianets-Podilskyi. Father Khomiak notes that this papal decision was the culmination of a long historical process. For centuries, the territories of present-day Ukraine had been divided among different political entities. In the western regions, which until 1946 belonged to the Second Polish Republic, the Catholic Church enjoyed relatively greater freedom. In Soviet-controlled territories, however, it faced harsh persecution. “Beginning in the 1920s, the clergy were persecuted, and efforts were made to eliminate the presence of Latin Rite Catholics.”

After the Second World War and the redrawing of borders following the Yalta Conference, almost the entire territory of the Latin Archdiocese of Lviv came under Soviet control. Only a small portion remained in Poland, centered in Lubaczów, where an Apostolic Administration was established to preserve the continuity of the archdiocese. Following the expulsion of Archbishop Eugeniusz Baziak from Lviv in 1946 and the Soviet persecution of Catholic clergy, it was this administration that kept the Church’s institutional structure alive.

Restrictions on Catholics and the work of priests

Father Khomiak emphasizes that during the Soviet era, Catholic believers lived under severe restrictions. Practicing one’s faith could result in criminal prosecution, and many people were persecuted simply for belonging to the Church or professing their faith. The number of priests was also dramatically reduced. In 1957, only 80 Latin Rite Catholic priests remained active throughout Ukraine, and that number continued to decline in subsequent years. Despite these hardships, courageous pastors kept the Church alive. Among them, Father Khomiak highlights Father Rafał Kiernicki, who served for more than forty years as pastor of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lviv, ministering to both Latin and Byzantine Rite faithful, together with other priests serving communities across the country. In May 1984, Pope John Paul II appointed Monsignor Marian Jaworski Apostolic Administrator of Lviv, based in Lubaczów. In 1991, he would become Metropolitan Archbishop of Lviv.

Father Khomiak also stresses that the restoration of the Latin Rite Catholic Church’s structures must be viewed alongside the parallel journey of Ukraine’s two Catholic traditions—the Latin Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. One decisive milestone came on August 4, 1987, when representatives of the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church publicly announced their intention to emerge from the underground and seek legal recognition from the Soviet authorities. “It was a decisive step toward the Church’s return to public life.”

The decisive role of St. John Paul II

“Thirty-five years ago,” Father Khomiak says, “St. John Paul II—a man who personally understood the nature of the totalitarian system—had the courage to restore the Catholic Church in what was then still Soviet territory.” He recalls Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to the Vatican in December 1989 and the diplomatic contacts that followed in 1990. On those occasions, the Pope insisted that he could not accept that “millions of Catholics in the Soviet Union should remain without a hierarchical structure.” According to Father Khomiak, that period was “truly a time of grace.” “Recognizing the signs of the times, the Church assumed an important role in the process of building the Ukrainian state.”

The restoration of the Latin Catholic hierarchy on January 16, 1991—just months before Ukraine proclaimed its independence on August 24 of that same year—opened a new chapter in the Church’s life. “Since then, many churches have been returned and reopened. Cultural and educational initiatives have flourished. Priests and consecrated men and women have participated in rebuilding social life.” Father Khomiak also underlines the international dimension of this rebirth: “The Church began to represent Ukraine before the world, and ecclesiastical diplomacy has done so in one of the best possible ways.” The restoration of the hierarchy also led to the establishment of the Conference of Latin Rite Catholic Bishops of Ukraine and various pastoral commissions dedicated to serving different aspects of the faithful’s lives.

The universal dimension of the Catholic Church in Ukraine

According to Father Khomiak, these past 35 years have fully revealed the universal character of the Catholic Church in Ukraine. “It is an institution in which every person, regardless of origin or personal convictions, finds a place. Everything is united around Jesus Christ.” He also highlights the Church’s charitable mission, especially evident since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “The charitable work of the Catholic Church over these 35 years—and especially since the war began—has provided invaluable assistance and support to millions of people.”

Looking back on the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the Latin Rite Church’s structures, Father Khomiak also emphasizes the responsibility of preserving and passing on the spiritual heritage received from previous generations. According to him, this anniversary reminds believers that even in the darkest times, “the Church has always been, is, and will continue to be at the side of the people.” The Church continues to accompany the faithful in their suffering, offering both human and spiritual support while sharing in personal tragedies as well as those endured by the entire nation.