Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti denies the statement by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavel Klimkin, who claimed the Vatican supports Ukrainian Orthodox Church autocephaly.
Kiev (AsiaNews) - "The apostolic nunciature in Ukraine once again confirms its position, often stated by the Holy See, for whom questions of the creation of one Ukrainian Orthodox local church is an internal matter of the Orthodox Church, regarding which the Holy See has not and does not intend to offer any assessment” reads a communiqué from the Apostolic nunciature in Ukraine, led by Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti.
The statement was issued two days ago, after news had spread that the Vatican supported the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church. The autonomy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has long been requested by the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I is willing to grant it, but the question has led to serious tensions between him and the patriarchate of Moscow, so as to arrive at a situation of quasi schism, with the breaking of direct contact between the two Churches.
The Vatican maintains a neutral position. On September 25, at the UN General Assembly, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavel Klimkin, met the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Mgr. Paul Richard Gallagher. As Credo.Press.ru recounts, soon after news appeared on the ministry website claiming that the Holy See had expressed support for the idea of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Hence the denial of the nunciature.
The report said: “this process has already begun, and a return to the status quo is impossible. The support of the Holy See and the clear position relative to granting a tomos is an important step for strengthening inter-religious dialogue".