From Catholic World Report:
Cardinal Mykola Bychok, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishop, has become the youngest cardinal in the world at age 44. Pope Francis elevated Bychok, who serves as the bishop of the Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Australia, during the consistory on December 7, 2024. This appointment is significant, not only due to his young age but also because Bychok is a member of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern-rite Catholic Church that is in full communion with Rome.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church, with over 5.5 million faithful, is the largest of the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, and its liturgical traditions are rooted in the Constantinopolitan (Eastern Orthodox) rite. Bychok’s attire at the consistory reflected his heritage. Instead of the typical red skullcap and biretta worn by other new cardinals, he wore a black koukoulion, in accordance with Ukrainian monastic traditions. This garment is styled after the 17th-century Brest Union, which united Orthodox Christians in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the Holy See, leading to the formation of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Bychok, born in Ternopil, Ukraine, in 1980, was ordained a priest in 2005 and appointed bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne in 2020. His episcopal motto, “Holy Mother of God, save us,” reflects his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, a central figure in Ukrainian spiritual life. Despite his new responsibilities as a cardinal, Bychok remains deeply connected to his homeland, which continues to suffer from the ongoing war. In his remarks after the consistory, he emphasised, “Ukraine is in my heart,” and asked for prayers for the people of Ukraine.
Cardinal Bychok’s elevation is not only a personal milestone but also a recognition of the global significance of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church within the Catholic world. As the Church continues to grow and evolve, Bychok’s appointment as the youngest cardinal offers hope and inspiration, particularly for young Catholics in Eastern-rite communities worldwide.
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