Pope Leo XIV’s “No to War!” Echoes as Ukraine Endures 218 Weeks of Unbroken Conflict

Ukraine’s church leader backs Pope Leo XIV’s anti-war call as Easter violence, occupation abuses, and resilience mark week 218 of war.

Newsroom (22/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In the 218th week of a war that “has not ceased for a moment,” even during Easter, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has issued a forceful appeal to the global conscience, amplifying Pope Leo XIV’s stark message: “No to war!”

His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, used his traditional weekly address on April 21 to express deep gratitude for what he described as the Pope’s “courage in speaking God’s word” to those “who have fallen into the illusion of omnipotence” and are driving the world toward destruction. The appeal, he stressed, is directed at all who wage war and “sow death,” with particular emphasis on those carrying out “unjust aggression against Ukraine.”

The timing of the message carries profound symbolic weight. Delivered during the Easter season—a celebration of life’s triumph over death—the Pope’s call resonates as both a spiritual and moral rebuke to ongoing violence. Sviatoslav underscored this connection, noting that the faithful welcome the Risen Christ as the “Prince of Peace” even as war continues unabated.

“It was especially important to hear this voice in the light of the Lord’s Easter,” he said, aligning the Church’s message with a broader plea for peace. “We want the whole world to hear: Ukraine stands. Ukraine fights. Ukraine prays!”

Easter Truce Violations and Escalation

Despite the announcement of a so-called Easter truce by the aggressor, Sviatoslav reported that it was “cynically violated.” He pointed to continued acts that he described as crimes against humanity and “gross violations of international law,” underscoring the gap between declared intentions and realities on the ground.

Rather than offering respite, the Easter period became another chapter in the war’s relentless progression, reinforcing the urgency behind both the Pope’s appeal and the Church’s warnings.

Seizure of Church in Tokmak

Amid the broader escalation, Sviatoslav highlighted a particularly painful event in the temporarily occupied territories. On Easter day itself, the Greek Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region, was vandalized and seized.

According to his account, the incident was marked by “particular cynicism.” Faithful parishioners—who had continued to care for and maintain the church despite the absence of a priest—were expelled. The site was then taken over by clergy of the “Russian Orthodox Church,” with the involvement of military units.

The episode, he suggested, reflects not only a military occupation but also a deeper assault on religious life and community identity in affected regions.

Sviatoslav expressed “deep sorrow” over the घटना and assured believers in the region of his “prayerful closeness,” signaling both solidarity and spiritual support for those enduring hardship.

A Message of Light Amid War

Yet even against the backdrop of violence, violation, and loss, the Church leader emphasized that Easter remains “a time of light.” Across Ukraine, in churches and communities, the ancient apostolic greeting rang out: “Christ is risen!”—answered in unison, “Indeed, He is risen!”

That declaration, he implied, stands as both an act of faith and quiet resistance—an affirmation of life, hope, and endurance in the face of a war that continues to test them without pause.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from UGCC

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