Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Holy See were established on 8 February 1992.
The Papal Brief of Pope John Paul II "Ucrainam Nationem" canonically established the Apostolic Nunciature on the above-mentioned date.
Apostolic Nuncio
His Excellency the Most Reverend Visvaldas KULBOKAS
Titular Archbishop of Martana
H. E. Msgr. Visvaldas Kulbokas was born in Klaipėda, Lithuania, on 14 May 1974.
He was ordained priest on 19 July 1998, and incardinated in the Diocese of Telšiai, Lithuania.
He studied at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, where he obtained the Doctor’s degree in Theology (2002) and the Licentiate in Canon Law (2004).
He entered the Holy See’s Diplomatic Service on 1 July 2004, and served in the following positions:
– 2004-2007: Attaché (subsequently, Second Secretary) of the Apostolic Nunciature in Lebanon;
– 2007-2009: Second Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Netherlands;
– 2009-2012: First Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Russian Federation;
– 2012-2020: served in the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, Vatican;
– 2020-2021: First Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya.
On 15 June 2021 he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine.
Ordained Archbishop on 14 August 2021.
He speaks English, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish.
Staff of the Apostolic Nunciature: Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate
Address: Turhenivska Street 40, 01901 KYIV, Ukraine.
Telephone: + 380 44 482 35 57; fax: +380 44 482 35 53
e-mail: nuntiusua@gmail.com
The Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See:
Ambassador: YURASH Andrii Vasyliovych
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See and to the Sovereign Order of Malta
Date of birth: January 17, 1969
Place of birth: Shpola, Cherkasy region
Education, academic titles: Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, majoring in journalism; Candidate of Political Sciences (February 1996);
Awards, honorary titles: Order of Merit, II degree (09.11.2018); Diploma of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "For Merit to the Ukrainian People" (17.01.2019); Diploma of Honor of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (31.01.2018).
Professional activities
12.1992 - Lecturer-intern at the Department of Theory and Practice of Journalism, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv;
07.1995 - 09.1999 - Assistant Professor of the Department of Ukrainian Press, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv;
09.1999 - 11.2001 - Assistant Professor of the Department of Radio and Television, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv;
11.2001 - 10.2014 - Associate Professor of the Department of Radio and Television, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv;
10.2014 - 10.2014 - Assistant Consultant to the People`s Deputy of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
11.2014 - 12.2014 - Deputy Director of the Department for Religions and Nationalities of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine;
12.2014 - 09.2020 - Director of the Department for Religions and Nationalities of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine;
09.2020 - 12.27.2021 - Head of the Department for Religious Affairs, Ensuring the Right of Citizens to Freedom of Worldview and Religion of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine;
12.14.2021 - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See (Vatican);
09.27.2022 - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Sovereign Military Order of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, part-time.
Speaks English and Polish.
Married, has three sons.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Holy See were established on 8 February 1992.
The Papal Brief of Pope John Paul II "Ucrainam Nationem" canonically established the Apostolic Nunciature on the above-mentioned date.
JOHN PAUL ІІ To perpetuate the memory of the matter
(translation)
For centuries the Roman Pontiffs have treated Ukraine with special care, above all due to the fact that the Christian communities that have existed there for more than a thousand years have given us many priests and saints, which is an exceptional fruit of the faith. Therefore, after the successful establishment of the diplomatic relationship between the Apostolic See and the state of Ukraine, we consider that it is proper to set up an Apostolic Nuncio in order to promote the spiritual good of the faithful of Christ who live in Ukraine. Consequently, by mutual desire, knowing the opinion of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, of our supreme authority, by the power of this Message, We establish an Apostolic Nunciature in the state of Ukraine, granting it all rights, privileges, honor, prerogatives, and indults that belong to similar Missions. And finally, we wish that the Message, written in the form of a Brief, be confirmed from this day forward, and that no adverse circumstances should hinder it.
This document is made in Rome, in Saint Peter`s, under the seal-ring of Fisherman, on 8 February 1992, in the fourteenth year of Our Pontificate.
+ Cardinal Angelo Sodano,
Secretary of State
The coats of arms of the Holy See and Vatican City State
House of the Apostolic Nunciature. Address: Turhenivska Street 40, 01901 Kyiv, Ukraine.
Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti was named Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine on 13 November 2015.
Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson on 21 May 2011, the Holy Father was named the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine.
What follows is the Easter Message «Urbi et Orbi» of Pope Francis, who mentioned Ukraine, stating: «May the sufferings of the people who live in the eastern regions of Ukraine come to an end»
On Monday 21st January 2019, His Holiness Pope Francis, received in a private Audience H.E. Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti, Titular Archbishop of Ravello, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine.
The Church has always been committed to helping those in need, while the Holy See itself has in recent years promoted various projects aimed at assisting the most vulnerable, projects that have also been supported by different actors on the international level.
In the morning of Saturday 6th October, His Holiness Pope Francis received in a private audience H.E. Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti, Titular Archbishop of Ravello, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine.
On December 13, 2016, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine His Eminence Claudio Gugerotti met with students and professors of Dragomanov National Pedagogical University. During the two-hour lecture, the Vatican Ambassador answered the participants’ questions and told about the Vatican diplomacy, and Pope Francis’ assistance to Ukraine and Syria.
12 January Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti presented his credentials to President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
© Copyright © 1991-2025 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv.
All rights reserved. Complete or partial use of materials is allowed provided the link www. rkc.lviv.ua (reprinted Internet - a hyperlink www. rkc.lviv.ua). Responsibility for the accuracy of the facts, quotes, names and other information lies with the authors of publications. The editors reserve the right to edit submitted materials.
If you notice an error, highlight it and press Ctrl + Enter to inform the editorial staff.
