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| Publication | Kyiv Post | |
| Title | Papal visit will bring Ukraine closer to Europe | |
| Author | Bohdan Skrobach | |
| Published | June 21, 2001 |
| In the editorial "Welcoming the Pope" ( June 14 ), the point was raised that it was difficult to understand why the pope's visit to Ukraine raised such consternation among some Orthodox. One reason for this can be found when one views the pope's visit in both political and religious terms.
The Russian Orthodox Church is closely tied to Russian political aspirations. Before communism, when the Russian Empire existed, the church strongly promoted the empire's reach and power. One of the cornerstones of the empire was the subjugation of Ukraine. Not surprisingly the Russian Orthodox Church still has nearly half of its parishes in Ukraine. When communism ended, the Russian nostalgia for the old empire's influence still remained. If Russia however loses its church's hold in Ukraine, one of the keys of retaining the old empire's influence will be lost. Although today the Russian Empire formally no longer exists, Western Europe still accepts the Russian sphere of influence in the region of the former Soviet Union. This has resulted in the continued existence of a line that divides Europe. It has many times been drawn between Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. This religious divide mimics the political divide. Only when this line disappears will one be able to speak of a united Europe. The pope's visit will help remove this dividing line. When he steps on Kyiv soil he will be indicating to the world that the centuries old rule in this region of Europe by Russia no longer exists. He will be telling both Western Europe and Russia, that the divide cannot continue to remain, if an independent Ukraine now exists. The pope's trip will be historic for helping make the goal of a united Europe become a reality. |