The first Ecumenical Social Week named "Help your neighbour" is taking place in Leopolis, Ukraine, from 9th to 15th June. The event takes inspiration from the Social Weeks, which are held every year in France (since as early as 1904), in Italy, Belgium and Poland. "These Social Weeks states the presentation of the Ukrainian event are initiatives promoted by lay people working in their churches who wish to promote together the social doctrine of Christianity in society" to "make a contribution to the building of a better world". The Social Week is promoted in Ukraine by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies, the Catholic University, the Municipality and the Region of Leopolis, in partnership with the Papal Council for Justice and Peace and the World Church Council. An international academic conference will be held today and tomorrow with such speakers as the apostolic nuncio Iwan Jurkovic, Flaminia Giovanelli of the Papal Council for Justice and Peace, card. Lubomyr Husar and the Orthodox archbishops of the autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Other speakers will include Michel Camdessus and Jean-Marie Brunot of the French Social Weeks. The wife of the Ukrainian president, Kateryna Youchtchenko, will be there too.
