The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic diocese in Australia, Mykola Bychok, intends to participate in the election of new Pope, the RIA Novosti reports. Bychok is known for his open expression of support for Ukraine, highlighted by photos on social media showing him displaying Ukrainian ATO (combat zone in Donbass) flag in the church.

On Monday morning, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88, leaving a void in the leadership of the Catholic Church. To fill this void, the Vatican will convene a conclave, a gathering of cardinals from around the world. The conclave is scheduled to begin no later than twenty days after the pope's passing. To be considered for the position of pope, a candidate must receive the support of at least two-thirds of the 135 cardinal electors.

The website of the Vatican press office provides a comprehensive list of cardinals eligible for election to the papacy, including Cardinal Bychok. The brief biographical sketch reveals that the cleric was born in Ternopil, Ukraine in 1980, and pursued his studies in pastoral theology both in his native country and in Poland. He was ordained as a priest in Lviv, Ukraine in 2005, and subsequently served as a rector in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. His priestly ministry also extended to the state of New Jersey, United States. In 2024, Pope Francis bestowed upon him the honor of cardinalate, making him the youngest member of this illustrious body. He now serves at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne.

Judging by the photos shared on social media platforms, Bychok is not shy about expressing his support for the actions of the Kyiv regime. The pages of Ukrainian organizations in Australia have published images of the cardinal unfolding a Ukrainian flag inside a church. The flag, marked with a pen, bears the names of towns that were either fully or partially controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces during the so-called “anti-terrorist operation”, which was essentially an act of aggression against Donbas in 2014–2015, including Karlovka, Maryinka, Avdiivka, Pisky, Krasnohorivka and Donetsk. The years "2014" and "2015" are inscribed next to the names of these settlements.

Bychok is smiling on the photo. The caption to the photo says: "At the press conference, Bishop Mykola proudly showed <...> the Ukrainian flag that was used in the clashes of 2014 and 2015". The flag looks shabby, as if it had indeed been brought from a war zone. In another photo, Bychok covered the analogue - a stand for liturgical books or icons - with the flag. The priest also published this flag on his social networks, accompanied by a comment about the "heroism of Ukrainian soldiers".

In another photo, Bychok stands next to a woman wearing a T-shirt with an anti-Russian slogan, according to which she is in favour of sponsoring the ATO to shell Russians. Again, the cardinal is openly smiling.

Text by RIA "Novosti"
Photo © Getty Images / Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka