Ukraine Welcomes His Holiness

ON JUNE 23 POPE JOHN PAUL II ON THE INVITATION OF THE GOVERNMENT AND CATHOLIC CHURCHES WILL BEGIN AN OFFICIAL AND PASTORAL VISIT TO UKRAINE. UKRAINIANS VIEW THE INVITATION TO AND VISIT OF THE HOLY FATHER AS AN INDICATION OF THE OPENNESS OF OUR SOCIETY, OUR RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, AND THE WISH OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. THE PONTIFF, A GREAT HUMANIST OF THE TWENTIETH AND TWENTY-FIRST CENTURIES, WILL BE WELCOMED BY UKRAINE’S SIX MILLION CATHOLICS. PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SHOW THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION, INCLUDING ORTHODOX ADHERENTS, ARE PREPARED TO BID THE HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH A FOND AND HEARTFELT WELCOME