During these days, Pope Francis values the possibility of visiting Ukraine. The Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of RomeRector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of RomeDavid E. Nazar, has spent years studying the different churches from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The war in Ukraine, in his opinion, has shown «a climate of collaboration that has always existed between Catholics and Orthodox in that country, with the exception of the Russian Orthodox».
Nazar gives the example of a small town in the Ukraine, “where a Jesuit priest not only teaches the Catechism to young Catholics, but the Greek-Catholic and Orthodox parish priests have asked him to also train their children, since they cannot attend to them . Is a relationship of friendship and trust present in most of the country.
The relationship between Catholics and Orthodox is one of friendship and trustRector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome
In this collaborative environment, the war in Ukraine has made «everyone has opened the doors to everyone, regardless of their beliefs, including Muslims and Jews living in the country. There is a sense of humanity in Ukraine, a humanistic culture, which has facilitated collaboration in the face of tragedy, “says the rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute.
Nazar highlights the fact that, being a secular country, Ukraine maintains a high respect for religion. They are aware of the role they play in the social and cultural sphere, and for this reason it is normal to see interviews on television with priests from one Church or another, outside of Christmas or Easter.
They have all opened their doors to everyone, regardless of their beliefs, including Muslims and Jews living in the country.Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome
In this regard, he recalls that when the leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, of the Byzantine rite, went to see the mayor of kyiv to ask him what else they could do for his country, the politician’s response was: “Pray for us. We need to hear the word of God. We need encouragement.” Since then, the archbishop has offered a daily homily on YouTube in which he “connects with the suffering of the people and tries to find God in what is happening in Ukraine». A factor that, according to David E. Nazar, “reflects the spirituality of the Ukrainian culture, which has grown during the war.”
Pope Francis with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill
The rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute qualifies as “sad” the situation of the Russian Orthodox Church. In his opinion, “it is unfortunate to see how the comments that Putin makes one day on an issue are repeated the next day by the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, but adding the word ‘God’ to the speech. And the problem is that this has been the case for the last twenty years.
It is unfortunate to see how the comments that Putin makes one day on an issue are repeated the next day by the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome
In this context, his perception of the war in Ukraine is that “it is still too soon for reconciliation. Reconciliation, in this climate of violence and aggressiveness on the part of Putin’s troops, cannot come in the short term. For reconciliation, a whole process is needed.”
Nazar highlights the wealth of the Eastern Churches. “When you read some of his prayers you feel that it is the apostles who are praying. It is the people who feel the resurrection of Christ. They have seen Jesus or know someone who has seen Jesus and his prayers are remarkably rich». The only problem is that sometimes their lore hasn’t been updated. For this reason, he considers that «the challenge in the West is not to lose the traditions and in the East it is the fact of not updating them. They believe that it has always been done this way and nothing should change. So the challenge is to find the balance».
David E. Nazar: «The Russian Patriarch repeats Putin’s comments, adding the word ‘God’»