The newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to the Vatican Andriy Yurash commented on the words of the head of the DECR of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, that the visit of the Pope to Ukraine is an unlikely scenario.

“During his visit to the Vatican on December 22, the head of the foreign policy division of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, allowed himself to make a manipulative commentary on our state.

We categorically reject the attempts of the ROC to influence the development of relations between Ukraine and the Holy See, in particular to question the possibility and relevance of the visit of the Roman Pontiff to Kiev. The Russian side does not and cannot have a vote in this process. <…>

Despite all the threats and challenges associated with the ongoing Russian aggression, our state strictly adheres to the policy of tolerant coexistence of representatives of all religious confessions, strengthening the dialogue between them on the basis of mutual respect,” wrote Yurash.