Pope Leo XIV receives Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk

In brief

Pope Leo XIV received Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia at the Apostolic Palace on September 11, 2026. Honcharuk, who leads one of the Ukrainian dioceses most affected by bombings and violence, met with the Pope to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.

During the meeting, Honcharuk thanked the Pope for his prayers, concern, and assistance in returning children and releasing prisoners. The bishop told Vatican media that the Pope welcomed the group with an open heart and extended an invitation for the Pope to visit Ukraine. Honcharuk stated that the war must end because people are dying in the country.