LVIV, Jun 25, 01 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II received a warm welcome as he arrived Monday evening in Lviv, in the western part of Ukraine, where Catholicism has stronger roots.
The Pope left the Ukrainian capital of Kiev after visiting the memorial to Nazi victims as Babi Yar, outside that city. He spent a few minutes in private prayer there, then said simply, "God bless you," to the Jewish rabbit who accompanied him at the site.
Although Vatican organizers admitted that they were somewhat disappointed by the size of the crowds that had greeted the Pontiff in Kiev, they found a much more enthusiastic welcome in Lviv, in the western part of Ukraine. The Orthodox Church dominates the religious horizon in Kiev, whereas in Lviv, further to the west and closer to traditionally Catholic Poland, the Byzantine-rite Ukrainian Catholic Church is more active. The Pope heard thousands of people shouting encouragement, in Ukrainian and Polish, as his motorcade passed.
Pope John Paul did not schedule any public events for the first day of his visit to Lviv. However, he made quick private trips to the city's two cathedrals-- representing the two Byzantine and Latin rites-- before spending the night at the residence of the Byzantine Major Archbishop of Lviv.
Catholic World News - Feature
25. juni 2001