December 13th: Day of prayers for martial law victims and "Ignite the Light of Freedom" campaign
On the 42nd anniversary of the imposition of martial law in Poland, on December 13, at 7:30 p.m., the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki will join the Institute of National Remembrance's "Ignite the Light of Freedom" social campaign.
A symbolic light will be lit in the window of the archbishop's palace in Poznań to commemorate the victims of communist repression. Fr. Leszek Gęsiak SJ, spokesman for the Polish Bishops' Conference, will also join the campaign, encouraging people to keep the memory of the events of December 1981 alive.
Initiated by the Institute of National Remembrance several years ago, the social campaign " Ignite the Light of Freedom" refers to the gesture of solidarity made toward Poles living under martial law on Christmas Eve after the memorable December 13, 1981 - by Pope John Paul II at the Apostolic Palace and by Ronald Reagan, President of the United States at the White House - but also by other citizens of the free world at the time.
Anyone can participate in the campaign by lighting a candle in the window or virtually at swiatlowolnosci.ipn.gov.pl.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops' Conference
Translated by Sr. Amata Nowaszewska / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops' Conference
