This is a full transcript of the media conference with Bishop Mykola Bychok, October 14, at the Saints Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, North Melbourne
Thank you for being here today.
I am Bishop Mykola Bychok – Bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania; I am a member of the Redemptorist Congregation and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church – and now also, Cardinal-designate for the universal Catholic Church.
It has been a very big week!
You may not know, but this honour from His Holiness, Pope Francis, came as a complete surprise.
People ask, ‘do you remember when you heard the news …?’ It is something I will never forget.
I was interstate at the time, on a pastoral visit in Brisbane and had my phone turned off during dinner. When I turned my phone back on, a flood of messages came through. To be honest, at first, I thought that was a joke. It has taken some time for it all to begin sinking in.
I am yet to know the particulars of this appointment. I obediently and willingly accept this great privilege of being a voice to the experiences and challenges of so many in need – most particularly the Ukrainian people, and the faithful of Australia.
A Cardinal in the Catholic Church is an honorary appointment at service to the Holy Father, the Pope. It is an advisory role that requires me to be attentive to the needs of the Church in the world today.
I believe my appointment as Cardinal is, as the Holy Father said this week – an expression of the universality of the Church, ‘which continues to proclaim God’s merciful love to all people on Earth.’
This appointment is not one that supersedes who I am now.
I remain first and foremost, the Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, and a bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church united with His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav, our Father and Head and my brother bishops in the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
I continue my deep collaboration with my brother bishops in Australia, both Latin and Eastern traditions. We are blessed to be a living in this country free of war and conflict which has become a place of peace and hope for many refugees and migrants.
I acknowledge with gratitude the countless messages of encouragement. Thank you for this continued support, not just for myself but for the peoples of Ukraine.
Today, I have brought something very precious to me.
This flag is a relic of bravery – and bears the blood and marks of my fellow Ukrainians tortured in defending their homeland.
It is a symbol of hope for all who suffer persecution, loss, displacement and the pains of war.
It is also a stark reminder that the marginalised can never be forgotten.
Here today under the patronage of Saints Peter and Paul – the great witnesses and martyrs of the Church, I ask for your prayers as I embark on this new journey. But importantly, I ask for your prayers for those who are most in need
Q&A with journalists (The Age and Seven News)
Q: About the role … The Age
A: …To be like one voice and one heart – to proclaim what is happening in Ukraine this very moment. My role will involve what is happening in Ukraine at this very moment. As you know, Many things are happening in Ukraine – and we should care and be good witnesses for the Vatican. For the Holy See. It is a beautiful dignity for me as a Cardinal-designate to share my thoughts with His Holiness, Pope Francis.
Q: Do you have plans to return to Ukraine? (The Age)
A: This time I am still the Bishop for Ukrainians here in Australia and New Zealand, and in Oceania. I love this country – this is home for me. When I am travelling back from my pastoral visits, this is my home – Melbourne is my home.
Q: And do you know what you will say to the Pope when you will see him? (The Age)
A: At this time, I don’t know any further information about my appointment. Perhaps towards the Consistory which will be held in Rome on 7 and 8 December, I will have some other recommendations and good information about my appointment.
Q: Phoned in from Channel 7 Sydney (inaudible)
A: Yes and no.. Because as you know, during the time of Pope Francis, he has nominated many Bishops as Cardinals from around the world, especially in those areas where there are small congregations of Catholics. We are not huge by peoples here, but are huge in territory – we have here in this region of Oceania a few hundreds in Tonga and Papua New Guinea as well for example. But, this will be some special sign for the whole Catholic Church. I was surprised by this nomination, but God works in mysterious ways. Maybe after a few months or a few years, we will see a special sign of this nomination. It will be a great opportunity for me and His Beatitude to be like one heart and one voice before the Holy See – especially for His Holiness Pope Francis.
Q: Phoned in from Channel 7 Sydney (inaudible)
A: I don’t think that this is true because as you know, there were nominations for 21 Cardinals, as well, one Cardinal was nominated at age 99. He spent all his life in service as a Nuncio. I think that this is a special sign for Ukraine.
Q: Phoned in from Channel 7 Sydney (inaudible)
A: I have met Pope Francis during my life, maybe three times. It was during my episcopacy, which means from 2020 until now. I have not had the opportunity to speak with him directly after my appointment, but I have received many, many messages of support from some Cardinals, and especially from the bishops here in Australia for which I am really grateful.
Q: Phoned in from Channel 7 Sydney (inaudible)
A: My family is living in … one of the safer areas. But, as you know winter is approaching. Last winter, or the one before, (they) spent a whole winter and one day they only had electricity for half a day. They were without hot water and a heating system. I can quote exactly what Pope Francis said yesterday after he said the Angelus: ‘Please stop killing innocent people. Winter is approaching, please do not freeze Ukrainians this winter.’ I think this message from the Pope is very good ahead of the approaching winter – it is very important for Ukraine. I support this message, because it will be a difficult winter for all Ukrainians – especially during this continued time of war.
Background on the Ukrainian flag at the media conference
In 2014 the war in Ukraine began with the invasion and occupation of Crimea and Donetsk.
Several Ukrainian soldiers based in Donetsk began to defend their homeland in what quickly became “behind enemy lines”.
This very flag was carried by them into battle and remained with them at all times. It was carried in battles in 2014 in Karlivka, Maryanka, and in 2015 into Avdijivka, Pisky, Krasnohorivka and Donetsk.
Eventually these brave soldiers were captured as POW’s by Russian forces. The flag was with them. The soldiers were beaten and tortured sometimes with the flag tightly wrapped around their heads. The flag carries the imprint of boots and blood.
In a rather miraculous way, this flag was passed on to a volunteer who in turn gifted this precious memorial to Bishop Mykola as a relic of the heroism of Ukrainian service men and women who defended their homeland against Russian aggression.
This flag is a symbol of the huge price that Ukraine has and continue to pay for her freedom. It is a memorial for those who have died and a reminder not to forget those who have disappeared without trace, the imprisoned, kidnaped, displaced and suffering.
For Bishop Mykola this is an emotional relic of the bravery of the whole Ukrainian Nation.