John Paul II days of remembrance started in Minsk

Pope John Paul II days of remembrance start today in Minsk Simon and Helen’s Roman Catholic church (the Red Church).

The 21st anniversary of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła (John Paul II) to the Holy See is celebrated, “Radio Svaboda” informs.

Apostolic nuncio to Belarus archbishop Martin Vidovich, Metropolitan of Minsk and Mahilyou Tadevush Kandrusevich (Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz), bishop Antony Dzyamyanka, as well as priests of Minsk parishes and parishioners are invited to take part in the celebrations.

On Saturday a benefit concert “Pure heart” is planned. The lineup is: Alyaksandr Patlis (ex-Novi Ierusalim, Belarus), Danny Platt (Germany), and Belarusian opera soloist Illya Silchukou. Sunday mass on October 19 is to become the final day of the days of remembrance. It is not the first event dedicated to John Paul II both in the Red Church in Minsk and in other shrines of Belarus, Roman Catholic priest Alyaksandr Amyalchenya informed.

“He was the person who was one of the originators of the Catholic Church revival in Belarus,” said Alyaksandr Amyalchenya. “He has given us spur to our vision and showed in which direction we should move. A few years since John Paul II death have passed. He had never been in Belarus, but he remains a close person to us: as a person, as the Pope. He is near to all people's hearts, even to those who had never met him. He was a congenial soul for us, and he remains and will remain in our memory as such a man”.