On 7 December, 2024, Bishop Mykola Bychok, Eparch of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne, which serves Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, was elevated to the rank of Cardinal in a historic ceremony at the Vatican. Pope Francis, in a gesture reflecting his vision of a missionary Church, conferred the honour on 21 new cardinals, including Cardinal Mykola, who at 44 becomes the youngest member of the College of Cardinals.
During the consistory in St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis emphasised that the ministry of a cardinal must centre on Jesus Christ and His teachings. He called on the new cardinals to be courageous witnesses to the Gospel, both in Rome and globally. The Pope’s words underscored the cardinal’s mission to serve, not to rule, as reflected in the Gospel passage from Mark 10:42–45, where Jesus teaches that greatness is found through service.
In a formal ceremony, each new cardinal received a scarlet biretta, symbolising the dignity of the cardinalate and their readiness to defend the Christian faith with courage, even to the point of martyrdom. The cardinals were also presented with a ring, signifying their love for the Church, which is strengthened by the love of the Prince of the Apostles. As Cardinal Mykola is a member of the Eastern Catholic Church, his vestments differed from those of the other cardinals. He wore a purple robe in the old Kyivan tradition, adorned with embroidered images of Saints Peter and Paul. In accordance with Ukrainian monastic tradition, he also wore a black koukoul. Cardinal Mykola was assigned the Basilica of Santa Sofia as his cardinalate seat in Rome.
On Sunday, December 8, Cardinal Mykola concelebrated his first Holy Mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mass was led by Pope Francis, alongside the newly proclaimed cardinals. Later that day, Cardinal Mykola led a prayer service in the Basilica of Santa Sofia, praying for peace in Ukraine. Reflecting on his appointment as Cardinal, he said, “God reveals His will to us in many ways. For me, God’s will was revealed gradually, whether through my religious upbringing at home, my vocation to monasticism and later to the priestly ministry, or through the Synod of Bishops of our Church calling me to the episcopal ministry and entrusting me with the care of the faithful of our Church in Australia and Oceania. Another part of God’s mysterious plan for me was the unexpected news of my appointment as a cardinal.”
He continued, “Personally, I see this appointment as another element of my vocation within the Church, which I will strive to fulfill in the spirit of obedience to God’s will, the Catholic Church, and as a faithful son of our local Church and my native Ukrainian people. For me, this appointment is not an honour but rather a cross—a cross that I do not carry alone. I am supported by the words of St. Paul the Apostle: ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:19–20).”
On December 9, Cardinal Mykola presided over the Pontifical Vespers at the Domus Australia in Rome, where he honoured the memory of his Australian predecessor, Cardinal George Pell. During the service, Cardinal Mykola blessed an image of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, the Patroness of Australia, and reiterated the power of the rosary as a spiritual weapon in the fight for peace.
Cardinal Mykola’s appointment strengthens the ties between the Church in Oceania and the Holy See, as he assumes his new role as both a leader of the Ukrainian Catholic community in Australia and a key member of the global Church.
