Roman Catholicism in Ukraine - History and Data

History and Data

There are about four million Roman Catholics in the country — about 8% of the total population. Roman Catholic church in Ukraine, by 2007 information, has 905 communities, 88 monasteries, 656 monks and nuns, 527 priests, 713 churches (74 churches are being built), 39 missions, 8 educational institutions, 551 Sunday schools, 14 periodical editions.

In addition to the Roman Catholics in Ukraine, there are three other Catholic Churches with significant followings in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Ruthenian Catholic Church, and the Armenian Catholic Church.

The majority of Ukrainian Catholics belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The Roman Church in the territories of modern Ukraine has been strongly associated with Poland and Poles.

In 2001, Ukraine was visited by Pope John Paul II, who held official and informal meetings in Kiev and Lviv. Obviously the Roman Catholic and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches warmly greeted a visit from their spiritual father. Non-Catholic religious communities expressed hope that the visit would encourage a spiritual and cultural renewal in a country troubled by economic and social problems.

Catholic charity Caritas Spes (by 2007 information) functions in 12 regions of the country, has 40 centers engaging 500 employees and volunteers. It runs six family-style homes for orphans with 60 children, financed health rehabilitation camps situated in environmentally healthful areas around Kiev, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Transcarpathian regions, benefits 2,500 children each year. About 12,000 Ukrainian children, mainly victims of Chernobyl, orphans, and children from poor families, had their health improved in this way in 2002-2007.