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{{Main article|Religious persecution}}

{{Main article|Religious persecution}}

[[File:Interior of St. George's Cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine.jpg|thumb|Interior of St. George's Cathedral in [[Lviv]].]]

[[File:Interior of St. George's Cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine.jpg|thumb|Interior of St. George's Cathedral in [[Lviv]].]]

With the start of [[World War II]], most of [[Galicia]] was annexed by the [[Soviet Union]]. The new communist administration acted decisively to eradicate the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: in April [[1945]], all its bishops were arrested and sentenced to forced labor. The Metropolitan [[Josyf Slipyi]], head of the Church, was sent to prison in [[Siberia]]. He was not released until [[1963]], after which he was exiled to Rome. In the same year, he was given the title of ''Major Archbishop of the Ukrainians in Lviv'', and in [[1965]] he was made a cardinal. He died in [[1984]].

With the start of [[World War II]], most of [[Galicia]] was annexed by the [[Soviet Union]]. The new communist administration acted decisively to eradicate the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: in April [[1945]], all its bishops were arrested and sentenced to forced labor. Regime officials detained seven Greco-Catholic bishops overnight on October 28, 1948, accusing them of "high treason" after they refused to convert to "Orthodoxy".<ref name=PopeFrancis/> The Metropolitan [[Josyf Slipyi]], head of the Church, was sent to prison in [[Siberia]]. He was not released until [[1963]], after which he was exiled to Rome. In the same year, he was given the title of ''Major Archbishop of the Ukrainians in Lviv'', and in [[1965]] he was made a cardinal. He died in [[1984]].

In [[1989]], towards the end of communism, Ukrainian Greek Catholics were granted the right to register with the [[Government of Ukraine]]. With the support of local authorities, Ukrainian Catholics gradually reclaimed their old parishes. This marked the beginning of a strong resurgence of Catholicism in the region.

In [[1989]], towards the end of communism, Ukrainian Greek Catholics were granted the right to register with the [[Government of Ukraine]]. With the support of local authorities, Ukrainian Catholics gradually reclaimed their old parishes. This marked the beginning of a strong resurgence of Catholicism in the region.