ROME, Italy.—After a five year break in activity, Ukrainian students from across Europe convened an extraordinary congress of the Federation of Ukrainian Student Organizations in Europe (SUSTE) here at the Ukrainian Catholic University and elected Taras Lonchyna to head it.
Included in the five-day program of the congress, which began Saturday, April 17, and ended Wednesday, April 21, were private audiences with Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Josyf I.
Taking part in the congress were representatives of student organizations in Italy, Austria, England, Belgium, West Germany and France.
The business sessions focused on general student activities in the free world, specifically actions in defense of Ukrainian political prisoners, the role of the Central Ukrainian Student Union (CeSUS) in community affairs, and the upcoming fourth world congress of Ukrainian students this summer.
On Tuesday, April 20, the delegates elected the new executive board which includes, in addition to Mr. Lonchyna: Andriy Chirovsky, first vicepresident; and Andriy Onuferko, general secretary.
On the final day of the congress, 20 delegates to the congress took part in a general audience with Pope Paul VI who cited their presence amid the 10,000 people.
The Pope was greeted with a resounding «Khrystos Voskres,» by the students.
The Holy Father addressed all Ukrainians in the free world, calling them «the dearest sons of the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite.»
«For hundreds of years, and especially in the last 30 years, they became shining examples of loyalty to Christ’s church and the Apostolic See,» said Pope Paul VI.
He also greeted those Ukrainians, who «because of persecution,» could not be here with the students.
News of the students’ visit with the Pope and his greetings to Ukrainians in the free world were reported by the Vatican radio and L’Oservatore Romano.
In the early evening hours of that day the students had an audience with Patriarch Josyf at the UCU.
Mr. Lochyna greeted the Prelate on behalf of the students, underscoring his work for youth and scholarship by creating such institutions as the university.
Patriarch Josyf commended the group for revitalizing SUSTE and pledged that the university can be used by them for any purpose.
«You should strive to attain as much knowledge as you can in order to become well prepared to eventually assume the leadership of the Ukrainian community,» urged Patriarch Josyf.
The congress was conducted by a presidium consisting of T. Lonchyna, chairman; Adriana Genyk-Berezovska, assistant chairman; and M. Tomashyk, secretary.
