On the afternoon of Saturday, November 19, Mass was celebrated in the Papal Great Basilica of the Virgin Mary on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and the Holy See. The Mass was led by Paul R. Gallagher, Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States and International Organizations, and Kęstutis Kėvalas, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kaunas.

After the Mass, the congratulations of the President of the Republic of Lithuania G. Nausėdas were conveyed by Sigita Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė, Lithuanian Ambassador to the Holy See. Mass in the chapel of Pope Paul V near Mary Salus populi romani concelebrated by Msgr. R. Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Pontifical Great Basilica of St. Mary, A. Arštikaitis, Lithuanian Pontifical St. Rector of Casimir College in Rome, other Lithuanian priests living in Rome.

In his Mass homily, Archbishop PR Gallagher was happy to be able to celebrate the 1922 anniversary together with diplomats from Lithuania and other countries. Holy See de jure recognized the jubilee of the state of Lithuania and diplomatic relations with Lithuania, which the Holy See did not break during the entire period of Soviet annexation, mentioned the contribution of Lithuanian believers to the creation of the state of Lithuania, the protection of good, human rights and the pursuit of freedom. He prayed to Mary, Salus populi romanito bless Lithuania, together remembered the war in Ukraine and entrusted the peace of Ukraine to the intercession of Mary, the Queen of Peace.

At the end of the mass, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, archbishop. PR Gallagher asked for prayers to accompany the mission of the Nuncio of the Holy See in Ukraine, Visvald Kulbok, which he carries out magnanimously in the face of great danger.

On the morning of Sunday, November 20, the Lithuanians of Rome took care of the celebration of Christ, the Ruler of the Universe, and at the same time, the celebration of St. Mary of the Dawn Gate of Vilnius. At the Mass, which was offered by Kaunas Archbishop Kęstutis Kėvalas. In his Mass homily, he admired the attitude of the Holy See towards the occupation of Lithuania and compared its decision not to recognize the annexation of Lithuania to the Gospel story about Mary standing under the cross of her Son, the crucified Jesus. Just as Mary mercifully stood by the cross of her Son, so the Holy See mercifully stood by Lithuania during the entire period of occupation, noted K. Kėvalas. The pastor of Kaunas called not to forget the current Way of the Cross in Ukraine and to pray for peace in Ukraine. After the Mass, the requests of the participants were entrusted to St. Juozapats Kuncevičius and St. For the intercession of John Paul II, a short prayer at their graves in St. Peter’s Basilica. (SAK / Vatican News)

Mass participants at St. Tomb of Juozapat Kuncevicius in the Vatican Basilica

Mass participants at St. Tomb of John Paul II