Vatican, Mar. 30, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) welcomed a new ambassador from Ukraine to the Holy See on March 30, acknowledging but not directly responding to an invitation to visit her country.
The Holy Father told the new envoy, Tetiana Izhevska, that he was grateful for the invitation she had conveyed from President Victor Yushchenko. He went on to say that Ukraine has historically served as a "gateway between East and West," and voiced his hope that the country would continue to fulfill that role.
Pope Benedict also expressed appreciation for the religious freedom enjoyed by the people of Ukraine. He specifically mentioned the positive relationship between the country's government and the Catholic bishops of the Latin rite.
Regarding the Byzantine Catholic Church in Ukraine-- which has sometimes clashed with Ukrainian Orthodox neighbors, particularly over the possession of parish properties-- the Pontiff said that Catholic leaders are anxious to "progress along the path of unity with their Orthodox brethren," and expressed his own full support for their ecumenical efforts.