In a letter to Ms Badenoch on Friday, Bishop Nowakowski said: “It was a pleasure to meet with you at our cathedral in central London on March 9. Your presence at the meeting and your words of solidarity with the people of Ukraine were very welcome.

“I want to thank you and your team for raising my concern regarding the Eparchy’s sponsor licence application  that we had submitted in November of last year and had been patiently waiting for so that we could sponsor clergy under the Minister of Religion T2 visa.

“I want to share that, thanks to you and your intervention, we have now received this long-awaited document. This will help us to provide pastoral care not only for our current parishioners in the United Kingdom but also for those who are fleeing Ukraine and will come to the UK for shelter and safety.”

According to government criteria, priests can apply for a minister of religion visa if they have been offered a job and have a certificate of sponsorship – which the  Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in London will now be able to provide.

Those applying for such a visa must also prove their knowledge of English and have at least £1,270 in their bank account to demonstrate that they can support themselves in the UK.