Cardinal-designate Mykola Bychok: It Will Be a Wonderful Opportunity to Have Direct Contact with the Pope.

Bishop Mykola Bychok will be proclaimed a cardinal of the Catholic Church

On December 8, Bishop Mykola Bychok, the ruling Archbishop of the Diocese of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne (Australia), will be proclaimed a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He noted that it is a wonderful opportunity to have direct contact with the Pope.

This appointment does not change who I am now. I remain primarily a bishop for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, as well as a bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in unity with His Beatitude Sviatoslav, our Father and Head, and my brother bishops in the Synod of the UGCC. I am also a member of the Australian Conference of Catholic Bishops and continue deep cooperation with my brother bishops in Australia, both of the Latin and Eastern traditions.

The bishop stated that he currently does not know what role or responsibility the Pope places on his shoulders.

But I know it will be a wonderful opportunity to have direct contact with the Holy Father.

Mykola Bychok noted that he personally spoke with the head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, regarding this appointment:

Yes, I am constantly in touch with the head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav, and his support is very important to me. After my appointment as a cardinal, he expressed great joy and support, emphasizing that now we will have another voice in the Vatican that will help convey the truth about Ukraine and our Church. The Patriarch noted that we will act "with one heart and one voice" so that our position is heard at the highest level.

The bishop added that being appointed a cardinal of the Catholic Church has become a major challenge for him. He noted that he is grateful for the support of His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

We are working together to ensure that the voice of the Ukrainian Church is heard in the global context.

Let's remember that Bishop Mykola Bychok, the ruling Archbishop of the Diocese of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne (Australia), will be proclaimed a cardinal of the Catholic Church on December 8. This decision was made by Pope Francis on October 6. Mykola Bychok will become the youngest cardinal in the world and the youngest in the history of the UGCC.