Entitled We Are in Europe, the exhibition is organized by the Polish capital's John Paul II and Cardinal Wyszyński Museum in partnership with the Mosty Foundation.
The exhibit notes that, despite the quotes being over two decades old, they remain relevant in the current geopolitical climate.
Pope John Paul II was deeply convinced of Ukraine's political and religious role as a conduit between the East and the West.
This sentiment fed into his vision of a Europe breathing "with two lungs," where Eastern and Western traditions complement and are essential to each other.
"Freedom is demanding and in some sense costs more than slavery," John Paul II said during his visit to Ukraine in 2001.
This quote, among others, demonstrates the former pope’s foresight and emphasizes the struggle for autonomy that Ukraine faces today.
This exhibit offers a timely reminder of Pope John Paul II's visionary ideas and serves as a call for unity and understanding in a Europe increasingly torn by political and cultural divisions.
The late pope emphasized Ukraine's Christian heritage, originating with the baptism of Kyivan Rus in 988 AD, which made Kyiv and not Moscow the cradle of Eastern Christianity.
His conviction was made evident during his pilgrimage to Ukraine in 2001, despite protests from the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow.
During this visit, John Paul II supported Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union.
The exhibition has been several months in the making and will be open to the public from September 22 to November 6.
The "We Are in Europe" exhibition will be open to the public from September 22 to November 6. Image courtesy of the John Paul II and Cardinal Wyszyński Museum
John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła, served as pope from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was highly influential not only in religious but also in political spheres.
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński was another towering figure in Polish Catholicism and an important collaborator with John Paul II.
The John Paul II and Cardinal Wyszyński Museum is co-managed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Archdiocese of Warsaw. It opened its doors to visitors in February 2020.
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Source: mt514.pl