Denys Kolyada, a freelance advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on religious diplomacy, who calls himself a friend and brother of the late Pope Francis, is going to write a book about him, where, in particular, he will reveal what Francis's help to Ukraine really was.
Kolyada spoke about this on the air of "Apostrophe TV".
"For me, he was a friend, a brother, a person who supported me, who read my letters, who happily answered them and happily sought meetings... I understand that Ukrainians may have different perceptions of the Pope, given some of his statements and tendencies. I was also hurt by some of his words. But I knew the Pope who could apologize for his mistakes, who understood that he could be wrong," noted the non-staff advisor to the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Denis Kolyada denied that Pope Francis was pro-Russian, that he was a "Kremlin agent."
He also said that he wants to write a book where he will tell how much Pope Francis has really done for Ukraine. According to him, he did this privately.
"Miracles require silence," Kolyada conveyed one of Francis's most important phrases to him.
He said that Francis kept on his desk the rosary of a Ukrainian soldier who died in Avdiivka, Donetsk region.
He posted a message on his Facebook page regarding the death of Pope Francis. He emphasized that with this sad news, something inside him was broken, because he had lost a brother and a friend.
"The silence became deeper. Pope Francis left. And something broke in me. Because he is not just a Pope. He is my friend. My brother. The one who heard my letters. Who silently accepted my doubts and fears. Who taught me not to be ashamed of love. Even when it hurts. Even when it remains unanswered. I fear tomorrow without him. Without his gentle voice, without the light that he carried in the depths of darkness. But I have hope for eternity with him. Because he taught me to trust - not in people, not in words, but in Life. He taught me to seek God in solitude. And not to turn away when the night seems endless. Now he is no longer tormented by pain. He is at peace. In the silence that has become Home. And I remain - with pain. But also with hope. Because Love does not die...", he wrote, adding a joint photo.
Denys Kolyada expressed hope that they would meet again someday.
As Apostrophe wrote, Ukrainian journalist and historian Oleksandr Zinchenko announced new interesting details about the late Pope Francis' assistance to the Armed Forces. Many more details are expected about what he did behind the scenes of publicity .