Grace Thompson
Ukraine has a long history of Catholicism, dating back to the 10th century when Christianity was established as a state religion. Today, the Catholic Church in Ukraine is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. While the majority of Ukrainians identify as Christian Orthodox, there is a significant Catholic minority in the country, with estimates ranging from 9% to 13-14% of the population. The majority of Ukrainian Catholics belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which is in full communion with the Holy See and has strong ties to other Eastern Catholic Churches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics in Ukraine | 13-14% |
| Ukrainian Greek Catholics | 8% (2022), 12% (2024) |
| Latin Catholics | 1% (2022) |
| Ruthenian Greek Catholics | Majority of the 13-14% of Catholics in Ukraine |
| Number of Catholic Churches | 4,733 (as of 2016) |
| Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches | 3,799 (as of 2016) |
| Latin Catholic Churches | 933 (as of 2016) |
| Armenian Catholic Churches | Minority of the 13-14% of Catholics in Ukraine |
| Latin Church Communities | 905 (as of 2007) |
| Latin Church Monasteries | 88 (as of 2007) |
| Latin Church Monks and Nuns | 656 (as of 2007) |
| Latin Church Priests | 527 (as of 2007) |
| Latin Church Churches | 713 (as of 2007) |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics make up 13-14% of Ukraine's population
- The Latin Church has a strong presence in Western Ukraine
- The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest Byzantine Rite Church
- The Catholic Church has been present in Ukraine since the 10th century
- Pope Francis met with 250 young Ukrainians at the UGCC cathedral in Kyiv
Catholics make up 13-14% of Ukraine's population
Catholicism is the second-largest denomination in Ukraine, with Catholics making up 13-14% of the population. The majority of Ukrainian Catholics (80%) belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which is in full communion with the Holy See and led by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Church. The remaining 20% of Ukrainian Catholics belong to the Latin Church and the Armenian Catholic Church.
The Latin Church is traditionally associated with historical pockets of citizens of Polish ancestry who lived mainly in the central and western regions of Ukraine. It uses Polish, Latin, Ukrainian, and Russian as liturgical languages. The Latin Church had 905 communities, 88 monasteries, 656 monks and nuns, 527 priests, 713 churches, 39 missions, 8 educational institutions, 551 Sunday schools, and 14 periodical editions as of 2007.
The Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, of which the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a part, has its main concentrations in Trans-Carpathia near the Hungarian border. This community has multiple ties in Hungary, Slovakia, and the United States.
The history of the Catholic Church in modern Ukraine dates back to the 10th century when Christianity was established as a state religion in 988. Following the East-West Schism, the Ruthenian Church in Kyiv became one of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. In the 14th century, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv was established after the annexation of the Kingdom of Ruthenia by the Kingdom of Poland. In the mid-15th century, Metropolitan of Kyiv Isidore attempted to unite the Ruthenian Church with the Catholic world by attending the Council of Florence.
In more recent times, Pope John Paul II visited Ukraine in 2001, and Pope Francis met with a group of 250 young Ukrainians at the UGCC cathedral in Kyiv in 2023. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has played a significant role in the public discourse in Ukraine, and its head, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, enjoys remarkable public confidence.
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The Latin Church has a strong presence in Western Ukraine
The Latin Church has a long history in Ukraine, with Latin bishops present in Kyiv since the 10th century. The Latin Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, is one of four sui iuris Catholic churches in the country, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, and the Armenian Catholic Church. All four churches are in full communion with each other and the Pope.
The Latin Church is particularly prevalent in Western Ukraine, with a significant proportion of the population identifying as Latin Catholics in this region. The Latin Church in Ukraine has strong historical associations with Poland and Poles, and the church has emphasized a Ukrainian identity since the nation's independence from the Soviet Union. The Latin Church performs its liturgies according to Latin liturgical rites and has a notable presence in the western regions of Ukraine.
The Latin Church in Ukraine has a strong organizational structure, with communities, monasteries, monks, and nuns dedicated to their faith. As of 2007, the Latin Church in Ukraine had 905 communities, 88 monasteries, 656 monks and nuns, 527 priests, and 713 churches. The Latin Church also has a presence in educational institutions, with 8 schools and 551 Sunday schools teaching the principles and values of the faith.
The Latin Church has played an important role in the religious landscape of Ukraine, particularly in Western Ukraine. It has contributed to the rich tapestry of faiths and denominations within the country, which is predominantly Christian. The Latin Church has also been a target of vandalism, with religious buildings and monuments of various denominations, including Latin Catholic churches, being vandalized. Despite these challenges, the Latin Church remains a strong presence in Western Ukraine, providing social services, education, and humanitarian assistance to communities.
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The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest Byzantine Rite Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has a long history, with roots in the Byzantine Empire and the Christianization of Kievan Rus'. It was formed in 1596 with the Union of Brest, which united Eastern Orthodox and Catholic believers. The Church was outlawed by the Soviet Union in 1946 and legalized again in 1987. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has faced significant challenges and persecution over its history, including suppression by Soviet authorities from 1946 to 1989, during which time its practices were forced underground.
The Church is led by a Major Archbishop, currently Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who holds the title of Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych and All Ruthenia. The title of Major Archbishop was introduced in 1963 as a political compromise, and the Church has been working to achieve Vatican recognition of its leader as the Patriarch of Kyiv. The Church has a strong presence in Western Ukraine, with a significant proportion of the region's population (28%) belonging to it. It is also the majority in the western region once known as Galicia, the heartland of the Church.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches, with almost 4.5 million members worldwide. Of these, 3.85 million reside in Ukraine, with significant communities also in Brazil, Argentina, Poland, the USA, and Canada. The Church has been expanding globally due to migration since the 1880s.
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The Catholic Church has been present in Ukraine since the 10th century
The Catholic Church in Ukraine has a long history, dating back to the 10th century when Christianity was established as a state religion in the region. In 988, Byzantine Christianity was adopted by Prince Vladimir I of Kiev, and the metropolis of Kiev within the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople was established. This adoption took place before the East-West Schism, and after this schism, the Ruthenian Church brought to Kyiv by the Byzantine Greeks became part of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
In the mid-10th century, Kyiv was visited by a mission led by Bishop Adalbert of Magdeburg from Trier Monastery. Following the annexation of the Kingdom of Ruthenia by the Kingdom of Poland in the Galicia-Volhynia Wars, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv was established in the 14th century. In the mid-15th century, Metropolitan of Kyiv Isidore attempted to unite the Ruthenian Church with the Catholic world by attending the Council of Florence.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches, was formed through the Union of Brest in 1596 to unify Eastern Orthodox and Catholic believers. This union was a turning point for Ukrainian national identity, separating Ukrainians from Russian-dominated Orthodoxy and fostering awareness of linguistic and cultural differences. The church was outlawed by the Soviet Union in 1946 and legalized again in 1987.
Today, the Catholic Church in Ukraine is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Catholics make up 13-14% of Ukraine's population, with the majority (80%) belonging to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. Significant numbers also belong to the Latin Church and Armenian Catholic Church. The Latin Church is traditionally associated with historical pockets of citizens of Polish ancestry in central and western Ukraine, while the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church is mainly found in Trans-Carpathia near the Hungarian border, with ties to Hungary, Slovakia, and the United States.
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Pope Francis met with 250 young Ukrainians at the UGCC cathedral in Kyiv
In Ukraine, Catholicism is largely concentrated in the western regions of the country, with 2% of the population in the west and 1% in the central regions identifying as Latin Church Catholics. Overall, 9% of Ukrainians are Catholic, with 8% belonging to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and 1% to the Latin Church.
On February 1, 2025, Pope Francis held an online meeting with 250 young Ukrainians at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv, also known as the UGCC cathedral. This gathering was described by Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk as "the first meeting in history between the pope of Rome and young Ukrainians." Some of the attendees joined from other cities in Europe and North America via video call.
During the meeting, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of patriotism, especially in times of war. He urged the young Ukrainians to "love [their] homeland" and defend it. He also encouraged them to embrace forgiveness rather than revenge, and to turn to their faith for strength. The Pope listened to personal testimonies from the attendees, who shared their experiences of pain, loss, and anxiety caused by the war.
In response to a question, Pope Francis advised the youth to "preserve the memory of the past, while also remaining open to the future and dreaming." He added that a young person who does not dream of the future will grow old.
The meeting concluded with the group singing the spiritual anthem of Ukraine, "God, the Great, the One."
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics make up 13-14% of the population of Ukraine.
The majority of Ukrainian Catholics (80%) belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Latin Catholics compose 1-2% of the population of Ukraine.
