Also bypassed – for the sixth time by Pope Francis – is Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Even his predecessor during communist persecution was named a cardinal. Despite the concern that Pope Francis showed for the UGCC this past July at a special Vatican summit, it appears that the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow – and behind him, Vladimir Putin – still get a veto on matters Ukrainian, and their hostility to Shevchuk and the UGCC has been manifest for years. The day after the new cardinals were announced, the Holy Father received Shevchuk and the UGCC governing council of bishops in a long-planned audience. It must have been a bit awkward.
All heads of Eastern Churches should automatically be "elevated" cardinals once they have chosen to become the head, or at the next consistory. But even that wouldn't be sufficient "representation" by the Church universal.
Or, the patrirach of Rome could recognize that the Roman Curia is to assist him with affairs pertaining to his own see, and maybe his patriarchate, but not with the Church Universal.
Catgikuc Gerakd
