Pope elevates Australian-based Ukrainian bishop to world’s youngest cardinal

Mykola Bychok didn’t waste any time highlighting the twin worries of the war in Ukraine and the attacks on a synagogue in Melbourne after being elevated by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis elevated Melbourne bishop Mykola Bychok to Cardinal in St Peters Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday evening and in handing him the gold papal ring, gave the Australian based, Ukrainian Cardinal a huge grin.

Cardinal Bychok, at 44, the youngest of the 144 Cardinals said the Pope was very warm and welcoming, and had told him in Ukrainian “Glory Be to Jesus Christ”.

Cardinal Bychok is Australia’s highest ranked Catholic, taking the place of 83-year-old Cardinal George Pell who died in January 2023.

“At least we know the Pope can speak a bit of Ukrainian,” he said.

As a Ukrainian Redemptorist missionary, the multilingual Cardinal Bychok has a broad base of support throughout the College of Cardinals and as he accepted congratulations from all of the Cardinals he asked them for a prayer for Ukraine. The attack at an Israeli synagogue in Melbourne was also front of his mind.

“I am Cardinal for the universal church but Ukraine and Australia are in my heart,’’ he said in between receiving well wishes from more than 100 members of the Ukrainian catholic church, including bishops who had come from Odessa and other parts of Ukraine, his sister and young nephew and others from Australia and the United States.

Pope Francis appoints Ukrainian cardinal Mykola Bychok during an Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new cardinals. Picture: AFP

Touching his papal ring, Cardinal Bychok said it is hugely symbolic, engraved with the Saints Peter and Paul, the same as his Ukrainian church in Melbourne. Cardinal Bychok was dressed in his cardinal robes, a crimson cloak and a black red trimmed veil, a traditional dress of Eastern European church leaders and he stood out among the red birettas of the other Cardinals and not just for his youth.

Cardinal Bychok said: “Right now I am not in shock but in total peace and in the hands of God. But on the other hand I’m worry about what is going on in Ukraine because it’s still a terrible war, Many people are dying, Russians are still killing our people, we can say it is a genocide of our people.

“I thank all cardinals for their support and congratulations but as well I ask them please pray for me and please pray for just peace in Ukraine.’’

Vitaly, a Ukrainian priest told The Australian “we came here from Ukraine, this is Bishop Pedro and this is Bishop Mikhail, we are from the same church and as Cardinal Bychok. He is a very humble person and will be a worthy Cardinal”.

Bishop Michael from Odessa said “we came here to give Cardinal Bychok our support”.

Vitaly added the elevation of Cardinal Bychok was welcome news for the Ukrainian church. “He will talk about our church and the impacts of the war, everyone has problems, and he can highlight the problems,’’ he said.

Cardinal Bychok said he had been shocked by the horrific attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday morning and had issued a statement just before the consistory.

“I join with other religious, community and political leaders to condemn this hateful act,’’ he said.

“Attacking any place of worship is a vile act that demands our strongest condemnation. In Australia we value religious freedom as well as the freedom of speech. Such acts of violence must never be condoned or tolerated.

“As I prepare for the consistory I pray for those who are physically and spiritually wounded. I ask you all to pray for peace and for healing.”

The hour-long consistory was attended by several thousand specially invited guests. Pope Francis urged Cardinal Bychok and the other 20 new cardinals to “walk in the way of Jesus: together, with humility, wonder and joy.” He reminded them that just as Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem was not an ascent to worldly glory but to the glory of God, they too must put the Lord at the centre and be builders of communion and unity.

Recalling the Gospel of Mark, the Pope said: “We need to look within, to stand before God in humility and ask: Where is my heart going? Where is it directed? Have I perhaps taken the wrong road?”