The Apostolic Nuncio in Belarus Msgr. Ivan Jurkoviè met with Greek-Catholic priests from all over the country in Minsk in recent days. The meeting took place at the end of a pastoral conference of priests chaired by the Apostolic Visitator for the Greek-Catholics in Belarus, archimandrite Siarhiej Gajek. During the meeting the apostolic nuncio urged priests “to make a common effort to deepen the unity of the clergy and foster pastoral collaboration between parishes”. The conference also marked the beginning of the process of the new registration of Greek-Catholic parishes throughout the country. The new civil statute that each parish must now present for registration within the Executive Committees of the Regions was drafted in consultation between the Apostolic Visitator and the government committee for religious affairs. In spite of bureaucratic hassles at the local level, “a new and more positive climate in relations between the Greek-Catholic Church of Belarus and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs” has been noticeable in recent months, says Gajek. During the pastoral conference, discussion also focused on the participation of the representatives of the Belarussian Greek-Catholic Church is various European ecumenical meetings, such as the 5th Convention of Gniezno (Poland) “Europe of the Spirit” (12-14 March). There are some 5,000 Belarussian Catholics, divided into 20 parishes and communities. Of these only 13 obtained registration in the past. There are 10 priests and 14 seminarians.
