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At the event dedicated to the presentation of initiatives with the aim of perpetuating the memory of Pope John Paul II at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 December, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis reminded the participants about the Shepherd’s teaching to aim coming to an agreement and to try to hear each other when looking for compromise.

A campaign to preserve the chapel named after Pope John Paul II on the Hill of Crosses and a publication “Dear Brothers and Sisters...” were presented at the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry. The publication is about the Pope’s trip to Lithuania and his message to Lithuanians and to the Poles.

According to the Minister, the little book published in Lithuanian, English and in the mother tongue of Pope John Paul II is important and necessary, because it “tells about great things and about things that unite our people.”

“The message is that the only way to come to an agreement is to learn to listen. And that the real victory is not to defeat someone, but to search for and find a compromise,” A.Ažubalis underlined the importance of this publication.

Pope John Paul II visited Lithuania in September 1993, after the country had emerged from the Soviet occupation.

„This way the Pope, who is known as one of the main supporters of the new democracies of Eastern and Central Europe in the world, gave exceptional attention to our country and provided society with courage needed to change things, to trust others and solidarity,” said the Minister.

Therefore, according to A.Ažubalis, the chapel named after Pope John Paul II on the Hill of Crosses where the Pope celebrated Mass, has become an “important historical and cultural site”. The maintenance and preservation of this chapel would help to foster and to perpetuate the memory of the Pope in Lithuania.

The Minister believes that the chapel is to be included on the register of cultural properties and supported the initiative of architect Algimantas Jukna and the Ginkūnai community to renovate this object. Participants of the event and everyone willing to perpetuate the memory of the Pope are invited to make a donation. Active parishioners have opened a special bank account for donations to help renovate the chapel named after Pope John Paul II.

The event also attended by Apostolic Nuncio to Lithuania Luigi Bonazzi, politicians, diplomats, public figures, the author of the publication “Dear Brothers and Sisters...” and historian, political scientist Vladas Sirutavičius.

We are at the end of the year of 2011, which is also the year of beatification of Pope John Paul II.

Those willing to perpetuate the memory of the Pope and his trip to Lithuania are invited to make a donation. You can deposit your donation at the account (No.LT827300010129357877) that the Ginkūnai eldership community opened for donations to help renovate the chapel named after Pope John Paul II.