“I sincerely congratulate you on beginning your service as the successor to the Holy See and the leader of Catholics around the world. We will never forget that the Holy See did not recognize the occupation of Lithuania – a historical truth that gave strength to our nation under Soviet oppression,” the President said during his meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Gitanas Nausėda expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV would visit Lithuania during his pontificate – the Land of Virgin Mary, a stronghold of Western Catholicism, where the legacy of the Augustinian Order still endures and where all people of goodwill await the Apostolic visit with deep reverence and faith.
“Thank you for your words of support for Ukraine in its pursuit of a just and lasting peace. We see Ukraine as a shield against Russian aggression. Pope John Paul II played a crucial role in liberating Eastern Europe and Lithuania from Soviet occupation and his words, ‘Do not be afraid,’ became a beacon of hope for oppressed nations. Today, your message of encouragement and hope is more important than ever to the people of Ukraine and others suffering the devastation of war,” the President added.
The Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Square marked the official start of the pontificate of the 267th pope, Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV. He was elected on May 8 following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
