Through the lands where Catholicism survived decades of Soviet persecution, the Pilgrim Route of St John Paul II traces the path of the pope who proclaimed Lithuania's freedom and renewed its faith. This route connects the sites of his historic 1993 visit - the first papal journey to a former Soviet republic - when over a million Lithuanians gathered to see the pope who had helped bring down communism.
📜 History & Significance
Pope John Paul II's September 1993 visit to Lithuania marked a pivotal moment in the nation's history. Just two years after independence from the Soviet Union, the Polish pope arrived to celebrate Mass with the Catholic faithful who had maintained their faith through decades of state atheism, deportations, and the murder of clergy.
The route follows the sites where John Paul II celebrated Mass, venerated Lithuanian shrines, and proclaimed the spiritual unity of Europe. His beatification in 2011 and canonization in 2014 transformed these locations into pilgrimage destinations.
🥾 Route Overview
The Pilgrim Route of St John Paul II covers approximately 100 km connecting the major sites of his Lithuanian visit, typically completed in 4-6 days of walking. The route passes through Vilnius and extends to shrines in the surrounding regions.
The path connects the Hill of Crosses (which the Soviets repeatedly bulldozed and Lithuanians repeatedly rebuilt), the Marian shrine at Šiluva, and the historic churches of Vilnius and Kaunas where the pope celebrated Mass before vast crowds.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
The Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai - A unique pilgrimage site where hundreds of thousands of crosses have been planted in defiance of oppression. John Paul II celebrated Mass here before 100,000 pilgrims.
Šiluva - Lithuania's national Marian shrine, where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1608. The pope crowned the miraculous image and prayed at this center of Lithuanian devotion.
Gate of Dawn (Vilnius) - The chapel housing the miraculous icon of Our Lady, venerated by Catholics and Orthodox alike, which the pope visited during his time in the capital.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Pilgrim Route of St. John Paul II (Lithuania).
