Ukraine Religious Leader Voices Civil War Fears

The main cleric in Ukraine's Greek Catholic Church on Tuesday warned about the risks of civil war and separatism in his homeland during a visit to Rome.

The Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, also appealed for the European Union to offer "economic aid and above all diplomatic support".

The risk of civil war "comes from abroad because when you cannot eat the whole cake, you eat just a slice," the clergyman said, in an apparent reference to Russia.

Shevchuk, whose "Uniate" church is loyal to the papacy in Rome, also met with Pope Francis during his visit and said the pontiff had told him: "Take courage!"

The prelate said Ukraine was entering "a dark but hopeful period because we do not know how it will end".

He also said Ukraine's various Christian denominations had become "united in tragedy" after three months of protests that have left nearly 100 people dead.