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"Christ Jesus, our hope." In an unorthodox way, typical of Pope Francis, the motto of his next visit to the Baltic states deliberately places the word "Christ" (in Greek for "the anointed" or "savior") instead of the most usual "Jesus Christ." The pontiff will convey his message of simplicity and sincerity in faith as well as his manly style to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia during a visit four days starting Saturday.
The two days that he will spend in Lithuania constitute the longest and most important stage of the tour. At 2.8 million, it is the most populous of the three states. It is also the only predominantly Catholic country in Northern Europe, with 77% of the population belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. He is regularly leading opinion polls as the country's most trusted institution.
The traditionally Protestant Catholic communities of Latvia and Estonia are small. Moreover, according to opinion polls, Estonia, with the Czech Republic, is one of the least religious nations in Europe.
The pontiff will meet politicians – his first nomination in Lithuania with President Dalia Grybauskaite – as well as his visit and prayer at the Vilnius Museum of Occupation and Free Fighting.
For the Baltic countries, the journey of Pope Francis is particularly important in a year full of symbolism. All three celebrate the centenary of their independence in 2018. Twenty-five years ago, Francis's predecessor, John Paul II, visited the Baltic countries, the first pope to do so. He arrived in 1993 just days after Russian troops finally withdrew from the region, completing half a century of Soviet occupation. The memories of this event are still very much alive.
Pope to meet Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite (left) and Vytautas Landsbergis (R), the first Lithuanian post-communist president
Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, the first Lithuanian head of state after the restoration of independence in March 1990, immediately invited Pope John Paul to come to the country. He was already an opposition MP during the visit, having lost the first presidential election in 1992.
"For me, the most striking picture is that of the Sejmas team [Lithuania’s parliament] – messengers, guards, cleaning agents – kneeling spontaneously, all together, when John Paul entered the building, while deputies, mostly former Communists, stood up, "Landsbergis said., Sept. 23, second largest city in Lithuania and former capital of the inter-war period.
"Today, politicians around the world are convinced that the economy determines everything in our lives." Pope Francis has a refreshing way to remind us that this is not the case, that greed and unbridled individualism are big problems, "Landsbergis said.
In the Baltic countries, capitalism remains "trendy"
However, the critical attitude of Pope Francis with regard to free markets and the concern about climate change, which is reflected in other parts of the West, will be less sensitive in the Baltic countries. Twenty-five years after liberation, people attach great importance to individual freedom and individual choice.
"This pope repeats to us all the time that our most serious sin is indifference," says Father Ricardas Doveika, former Chancellor of the Diocese of Vilnius. "That's exactly what we inherited from the communist era, so everyone was concerned about his business, and now it's about the egocentric consumerism of the new era, and it's no wonder that nearly 4,000 children are visiting. Pope will tackle this problem head on, I'm sure. "
Alcoholism, especially in rural areas, high rates of abortion and church attendance are also of concern to the Catholic Church in Lithuania. Some compare the situation in Lithuania to that of its strongly Catholic neighbor, Poland. "The same trends are also visible there," admits Laurynas Kasciunas, Conservative MP and practicing Catholic. But take Warsaw, the most secular city in Poland. The average attendance of Sundays is about 30%. I would like to see such numbers here, where they are at best 10 to 15%, even in a traditionally more religious campaign! "
Kasciunas – and the pope – can find some comfort in the fact that criticism of the church and non-belief, spread elsewhere in Europe, are visibly weaker in Lithuania. In August, members of a left-wing troupe, Zero Live Show, introduced themselves as priests and presented a homily, announcing an upcoming event, to parishioners gathered for Mass in a small town of Salcininkai, near Vilnius. It caused a sensation on social networks, but few people, even among progressive intellectuals, defended the performance. The general consensus was that even though the action itself was not illegal, it was morally wrong. Those who defended it in the name of artistic freedom were clearly in the minority.
"It's easy to understand why," a Vatican official told DW. "The Catholic Church was virtually eliminated during the Soviet occupation.This martyrdom is very important to the people.They always consider the church as a force for good and tend to forgive its deficiencies. "
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