Cardinal Mykola Bychok is a prelate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, Australia, who at just 44 became the youngest prelate to have been elevated to the College of Cardinals for many years.

Born on February 13, 1980, in Ternopil, Ukraine, Bychok heard a calling to be a priest at the age of fifteen and joined priests of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) on missions and retreats at various monasteries.

The lives of the Redemptorist missionaries and their zeal in the preaching of God’s Word made a deep impression on him and in 1997 he joined the order. He then underwent theological training in Ukraine and Poland, professed his final vows in 2003, and was ordained priest on May 3, 2005.

Bychok served various roles within the Church, including as a missionary in Prokopyevsk, Russia, and later as a parish priest and provincial bursar in Ukraine. He also spent time in the United States as vicar of the Ukrainian Catholic parish of Saint John the Baptist in Newark, New Jersey.

In January 2020, Pope Francis appointed him as the Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Australia. His episcopal consecration took place on June 7, 2020. Bychok’s leadership has been marked by a commitment to fostering community among the Ukrainian diaspora in Australia and addressing challenges such as secularization and youth engagement within the Church.

Pope Francis created Bychok a cardinal on December 7, 2024, making him the youngest cardinal at that time. Bychok expressed his surprise and excitement regarding this honor, emphasizing that it represents not just a personal accolade but a recognition of the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and its community in Australia.

Cardinal Bychok has faced challenges related to maintaining cultural identity within an aging congregation and adapting to the needs of younger generations who may not speak Ukrainian fluently. He has highlighted the importance of integrating English into church services to better connect with youth while preserving traditional practices.

Cardinal Mykola Bychok speaks several languages. He speaks Ukrainian, which is essential for his liturgical duties and community engagement within the Ukrainian diaspora. Additionally, he communicates in English and likely has proficiency in Polish due to his studies there.

On hearing the news of his elevation to the cardinalate, Bychock said he would endeavor to “follow the worthy example of my predecessor Cardinals: Patriarch Josyf Cardinal Slipyj, who, after his release after eighteen years in a Soviet gulag and moving to Rome, became the voice of our Church in the free world and, using various forums, emphasized the persecution of the Churches in the USSR and called for more radical actions to protect the rights of believers.”