On Ukrainians declaring themselves a patriarchal see

[TheAdvocate]

The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church refers to their Major Archbishop as “patriarch” even though he is not recognized as such by the patriarch of Rome, our pope. When challenged on this point, Ukrainian Greek Catholics will say that Constantinople also proclaimed themselves patriarchal, and though Rome initially rejected this self-proclaimed status, the Apostolic See eventually came 'round and recognized it.

The problem with argument is that it makes it seem like what the see of Constantinople did was ok. Even in hindsight, I do not believe that the Catholic Church finds what they did acceptable, and recognition of Constantinople was given for political reasons.

 

[twf]

This is very different from that situation. Recent Popes would have been quite happy, I think, to recognize the patriarchal status of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church if not for political reasons. Relations with Moscow, which are strained at the best of times, would implode if Rome was ever to formally acknowledge the patriarchal status. Rome has never condemned or reprimanded the Ukrainians for internally recognizing their Major Archbishop as a patriarch. In fact, Rome created the title “Major Archbishop” to get around this problem…granting the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church the autonomy of a patriarchal Church without upsetting Moscow by recognizing the actual title.