The city of Kyiv is now the new home of Father Luca Bovio, a Consolata missionary who was appointed on March 25 as the national director of the newly established Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Ukraine.
By Jaime C. Patias *
Originally from Milan, Italy, Father Luca Bovio has been serving in Poland since 2008, where he was secretary of the Pontifical Missionary Union. He knows Ukraine well, having visited the country dozens of times since the beginning of the war to deliver humanitarian aid to the affected population. Now, he is tasked with launching the work of the national PMS office in a country with a deeply missionary context.
In this video, Father Luca talks about his new mission in a nation ravaged by war.
“We Consolata missionaries from Poland are committed to bringing comfort to the people so deeply affected by war. There have been many trips and projects we’ve continued to support, also thanks to your contributions,” explains Father Luca. “Now, this reality beginning for the first time in the country presents even greater challenges, and we are ready to embrace it, giving our very best. The situation is not easy, and the establishment of the PMS in Ukraine is, above all, meant to be a sign of hope.”
The Pope himself leads the Dicastery for Evangelization, and “we want to bring unity and peace – those two key words that Pope Leo XIV has often repeated and pointed out to all of us since the beginning of his pontificate,” says Father Luca, as he thanks everyone for their support and generosity.
The missionary also calls on everyone to pray for Ukraine and for peace in the world. “We must pray for the people involved in these projects because working in a war zone is not easy; this prayer brings hope within us.”
Father Luca Bovio reminds us that the Pontifical Mission Societies are present in over 120 countries and have two fundamental goals. “The first is educational in nature, and for us missionaries it’s clear: to awaken the missionary consciousness in every baptized person—to rediscover within themselves the joy of being a proclaimer of the Gospel and a bearer of hope.” The second goal is “charity and solidarity, which are so important in a world marked by deep economic disparities and injustices. We try to build a great universal Catholic network. If a country has needs, the PMS take care of its poverty, its wounds at the local level, but always with a broader, universal perspective. The collections taken during World Mission Day in October aim to open both our vision and our generosity to distant situations of suffering.”
This year, Father Luca participated for the first time in the General Assembly of the PMS in Rome. “It’s a very enriching experience to meet brothers and sisters from all over the world. It allows us to exchange ideas and learn about realities far removed from our own.”
As part of this Assembly, a meeting with the Holy Father is always scheduled. This year, it coincided with the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. “Let’s remember that he too was a missionary in Peru for many years and has already expressed multiple times his missionary passion. His missionary spirit will undoubtedly influence his pontificate. Gathering together as missionaries was truly a joy and a blessing.”
Father Luca shares that when he introduced himself to Pope Leo XIV as the new director of the PMS in Ukraine, the Pope told him: “Courage! Be strong in this country and continue to bring the Good News and hope.”
The Consolata Missionaries frequently collaborate with the PMS in many countries. “I’m not the first. We’ve had many directors and collaborators around the world. So, we must feel part of one united mission that brings us together.”
In this ministry, “I deeply feel the closeness and protection of Our Lady Consolata and our Founder, Saint Joseph Allamano. To journey through Ukraine at this time means meeting people who suffer, but also witnessing the grace that comes to us through our Founder. I’ve already promised that the relics of the Founder will be brought to the cathedral of Zaporizhzhia, where they will be venerated by the faithful. We can be sure that the presence of Saint Joseph Allamano will be a source of grace for those people who are so in need of peace and consolation.”
Father Luca Bovio concludes by repeating the same blessing for peace that Pope Leo offered in his first words after being elected: “The peace of the Risen Christ be with you.” May this peace also reach Ukraine”.
* Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Office for Communication
