Cardinal Angelo Sodano, State Secretary of the Vatican, visited Kyiv Tuesday, formally to attend the ceremony of sanctifying and opening the Vatican’s new office, Nunciature of the Holy See in Ukraine. Considering that he is expected to meet with the Ukrainian President and the Prime Minister, the reverend guest is also to negotiate expanding political contacts between the two countries. According to Mr. Sodano, the Vatican is interested in having a permanent Ukrainian diplomatic mission at the Holy See and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is already taking steps in this direction.
The local Catholic community received this visit as evidence that some headway has been made in the long-anticipated visit of Pope John Paul II. However, when posed a straight question, Mr. Sodano gave an ambiguous reply that could only be interpreted as evidence to the contrary.
During a special divine service celebrate at St. Alexander’s Cathedral, packed with adherents, most greetings expressed the hope that His Holiness would visit Ukraine. Gathered to meet Cardinal Sodano were Catholics of Kyiv parishes, numerous clergymen, cloistered brothers, envoys of Catholic countries in Ukraine, and government officials. Almost all those present regarded Cardinal Sodano as a person paving the way for a papal visit.
Most of those present at the cathedral spoke Ukrainian and the divine service was conducted in Ukrainian. The visiting religious dignitary’s attire was richly decorated with Ukrainian needlework.







