VATICAN CITY (NC) – Despite a new wave of tension between the Vatican and Ukrainian-rite officials, Pope Paul VI extended warm Easter greetings to the Ukrainian Church and praised the rite for its loyalty to the papacy.
In recent months the Vatican has suspended four newly ordained married priests — one ordained in Rome by Cardinal Slipyi and three ordained in Canada by Ukrainian-rite Bishop Michael Rusnak, auxiliary of the Ukrainian-rite diocese of Toronto.
Addressing Ukrainian-rite seminarians at his general audience April 21, the Pope said: “We would like to send along a special salute to our dearest sons of the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite, who for centuries and continuing through the last three decades have given such a clear example of their attachment to the Church and their loyalty to this Apostolic See.»
The Pope, departing from his text, lamented that the Ukrainian Church is being persecuted in the Soviet Union and has been scattered throughout the world.
The Ukrainian rite celebrates Easter April 25 this year, along with other Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox.
The recent suspensions of ordained married men were undertaken by the Vatican since married Eastern-rite priests are forbidden by Vatican decree to minister in the West without special papal permission.
The four men were slated to work in Venezuela and in Canada.
