Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, recently concluded a two-week visit to Poland and war-torn Ukraine. The Catholic Church in Chicago has actively supported efforts to welcome refugees from Ukraine who have fled to Chicago and elsewhere since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. One of those efforts involves working with the Archdiocese of Lodz, in central Poland, to provide housing for newcomers.
Cardinal Cupich shared some of his experiences with me—in an email responding to my questions—at the conclusion of his visit.
You went from Poland to Ukraine and stayed there another four days. Why?
My main reason was to stand in solidarity with Ukrainians. It was clear that just being with them was a source of encouragement to them in these difficult times. Everywhere I went people told me that my visit was a reminder to them that they were not forgotten and that they matter.
I believe that the many trips that the papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, has made has given Ukrainians the same message: “We are with you; you are not alone or forgotten.”
I also went to Ukraine because I wanted to see with my own eyes what was actually happening in the country, and I came away both sad and hopeful.
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Gerard O’Connell is America’s Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
With thanks to America and Gerard O’Connell, where this article originally appeared.
