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.
Our conversation has been edited for clarity, length and style
Gerard O’Connell: What impressed you about the humanitarian work done by the Caritas center in Lodz, and at the parish that welcomes refugees and offers temporary housing that the Archdiocese of Chicago supports?
Cardinal Cupich: First, I was inspired by the extraordinary generosity and heroism of the Polish people. They have been outstanding in providing food, shelter, clothes, education and, yes, jobs for millions who have crossed over from their border with Ukraine since the invasion nearly 17 months ago.
Church agencies like Caritas but also parishes and individual families have opened their doors to refugees. In all cases, people spoke of their efforts not as a burden but a blessing. People were not only welcomed but integrated into daily life. A key ingredient was the fact that refugees were able to gain employment, so that they could support themselves. Having a job gave people a sense of self-respect and confidence that they could take a hold of their lives.
The response of the people of Poland to Ukrainians seeking asylum is a particular challenge to the world and our own country, forcing us all to examine our conscience about our attitudes toward welcoming the stranger in need.
I was inspired by the extraordinary generosity and heroism of the Polish people.
What struck you most about the situation of Ukrainian refugees?
As I wrote in my diocesan paper, a profound sadness came over me as I visited with people of all ages who were forced to flee their homeland. They told stories of family members killed in defending their country and the destruction of their towns and homes. At a moment’s notice they had to pick up and leave behind their life and livelihood, fearing for their very existence.
I was told that 14 million people have fled their homes in the Ukraine because of the Russian attacks. Some eight million or more of them have left the country, most crossing the border with Poland. Around six million of them are internally displaced in Ukraine itself—having moved to other parts of the country—and are being welcomed and cared for, as I saw in Poland.
People are trying their best to return to some kind of normalcy, even if that means dealing with missile attacks and the news from the front of loved ones lost in battle. Funerals of fallen soldiers take place daily in Ukraine and people show great respect for their ultimate sacrifice, but in spite of all of this, I saw no evidence of deep discouragement or hopelessness. The resilience of Ukrainians was in evidence everywhere I visited. People are positive and upbeat amid all that is happening.
People are trying their best to return to some kind of normalcy, even if that means dealing with missile attacks and loved ones lost in battle.
You visited an orphanage in Poland that cares for 500 Ukrainian children. How are they being cared for?
Just outside of Lodz, a hotel has become the home of nearly 500 Ukrainian orphans. They came from 26 different orphanages in Ukraine. It is perhaps the largest orphanage in Europe. The children are well cared for and seem to be adjusting well. They were given a chance to continue their schooling either in the Polish or Ukrainian system and chose the latter, which is done online.
While they have received food, clothing and shelter, and have a daily routine of education and recreation to keep them busy, they told me that one of the highlights of their life in the orphanage was a video conference with President Zelenskyy. Their main question to him was: “When are we going to return home?”
I was very impressed with the hotel management and staff. They cared for these children as if they were their own.
What work is being done by the religious communities you met?
I met religious communities in both Poland and Ukraine that are helping refugees and displaced persons, providing shelter and assistance in their monasteries. I was particularly impressed by the contribution of the religious women; they know how to get things done all the while treating people with kindness and compassion.
In Ukraine, for example, I visited a group of Basilian sisters who are giving shelter to refugees but also actively collecting food and other supplies, which they themselves take to smaller communities in the east near occupied areas. Catholic Extension, based in Chicago, is partnering with these sisters, and I saw first-hand the great work they are doing and found their dedication so very inspiring.
I was particularly impressed by the contribution of the religious women; they know how to get things done
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.
You visited Irpin and Bucha, the sites of terrible atrocities done by the Russian troops as they sought to reach Kyiv. What did you feel as you walked through both places?
Irpin is where the Russian advance to take the capital was stopped. We visited a church that was still riddled with bullet holes. The assistant pastor told us of the herculean efforts the ecumenical community made to help people escape to safety. Their town was particularly the target of rocket attacks, and there were still signs of destruction of homes, buildings and churches.
On the way to Bucha we were taken to a parking lot full of wrecked cars and vehicles destroyed by Russian tanks and artillery. These were simple cars, transporting family members and friends trying to escape as the Russian military invaded.
In Bucha, we visited a cemetery where hundreds of people and soldiers who were killed in the first days of the war are buried. We were also taken to the site of the mass grave where the bodies of civilians shot down in the street were dumped by the Russians. We also saw the site where seven men were rounded up and executed, with their hands tied behind their backs. Being present where these atrocities took place was very chilling, especially after seeing the actual footage of their being rounded up and taken to the back of a building for execution.
We visited a church that was still riddled with bullet holes.
You also spent time at the Catholic university in Lviv. What did you do there?
I was at the university on the day of graduation. As one can imagine, there was a joyful spirit on campus as students celebrated their accomplishments and looked to their future with hope, notwithstanding the present situation of war.
So many Ukrainians are experiencing mental health problems because of the war. What is the university doing to help them?
The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has made it a priority to attend to the mental health of the nation. The Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv provides the nation with exceptional resources to help in this regard. There is interest in partnering with other Catholic universities in the United States and elsewhere to see how their expertise and experience can offer additional resources.
You visited the Garrison Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Lviv that has conducted some 500 funerals in the past year. What impression did this leave on you?
In the church and at the cemetery—where a funeral was taking place as we visited—the photos of the fallen are posted everywhere. People want to put a face to those who sacrificed their lives to make sure they are not forgotten but also to keep before the world [the recognition] that there is a real human cost to this war. I made it a point to look at each photo out of respect for those who died. It was heartbreaking to see how young most were.
People want to put a face to those who sacrificed their lives to make sure they are not forgotten
You stayed with Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, whom the Russians had wanted to assassinate in February 2022. What did you learn from him about the war?
I found the Metropolitan very serene and yet focused on caring for the needs of his people. It is difficult for him as he calls for a peaceful resolution of the war and at the same time provides encouragement to people who are suffering great loss as a result of the invasion. I greatly admire him and am so grateful that he took time to host me and visit with me.
What is the situation regarding humanitarian aid? I understand there is a lack of such things as medicines, hospital equipment, medical staff, etc. What can be done to respond to this need?
There is a concern that the humanitarian aid comes, where possible, from resources within the country to support the local economy. Ukraine has a good system of providing goods, and so financial aid is needed to help people purchase products within the country. Of course, medicines and medical supplies may be an exception to this rule in some cases.
There should be no doubt that the Ukrainian people are totally resolved to defend their territorial integrity and the right to self-determination.
What is your overall takeaway from your visit to Ukraine? What is the particular memory that remains in your heart and mind?
There should be no doubt that the Ukrainian people are totally resolved to defend their territorial integrity and the right to self-determination. They want the war to end but they also look to the future to make sure that any decisions related to the end of the war do not jeopardize these values. This sentiment is widespread.
Their resilience is inspiring, as is their ability to adapt to developments that are totally out of their control. These people have a sense of who they are in the world community, and they will not be robbed of that national identity
While you were in Ukraine the pope’s peace envoy was in Moscow [June 28-29], attempting to talk to the leaders there. How did the people you met in Ukraine view that peace initiative?
While people want peace, there was uncertainty about the chances for this initiative to be successful. There is a genuine wish that the Holy Father may be able to create a breakthrough, but at this point, the pathway for that to happen is not clear.
The Vatican speaks of the need for “a just peace.” What does this mean for the Ukrainians you met? How do you see it?
For the Ukrainians, it means respecting the borders that were in place before the incursions that began in 2014, when Crimea was taken and the eastern part of Ukraine was invaded. People reminded me that their integrity as a nation was part of the deal when they gave up nuclear weapons and that should be respected.
For my part, I have no doubt that we need to stand with the Ukrainian people in this moment and do all [we can] to alleviate their suffering. We should also be willing to stand with them in a way that recognizes the real issue of this war is their very existence as a people with their own history, culture, language, tradition and heritage. The example the Ukrainian people are giving the world in defending these values should compel us all to stand in solidarity with them—yes, for their future but also our own.How or when do you think the war will end?
I have no idea how it will end. I only pray it will end soon.
