March for life in Vilnius, Lithuania, draws thousands, inspires support for pro-life cause

Vilnius, Lithuania, Oct 6, 2025 / 13:32 pm (CNA).

The heart of Lithuania’s capital came alive with music, speeches, and powerful personal stories as thousands gathered on Saturday for the “Žygis už gyvybę” (“March for Life”), an event dedicated to celebrating the sanctity of life and raising awareness about the necessity of its protection.

The march drew participants from across Lithuania as well as from neighboring countries including Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.

The event on Oct. 4 began in the early afternoon near the Martynas Mažvydas National Library, drawing a diverse crowd of families, students, activists, artists, and clergy. Promoted by a range of civil and religious organizations, the march focused on affirming the value of every human life.  

Religious figures outside of Lithuania vocalized support of the initiative, including Latvian Catholic Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevičs of Riga and Latvian Lutheran Bishop Rinalds Grants, both of whom expressed solidarity with the march’s aims. Auxiliary Bishop Saulius Bužauskas of Kaunas, Lithuania, participated in the march in person.

Attendees gathered near the Lithuanian National Library for the event’s opening ceremony, where speakers shared insights from personal, medical, social, and philosophical perspectives. Among them was Dr. Lina Šulcienė, who highlighted the moral and spiritual need for a more compassionate society.

“The depths of our conscience cry out for a path other than the culture of death,” she said. “Our inner humanity calls for a culture of life, one marked by solidarity, genuine compassion, and sensitivity to human beings, respecting their lives.”

Agnieszka Gracz, coordinator of pro-life marches for Poland’s Centrum Życia i Rodziny  (Centre for Life and Family), also addressed the crowd. The Warsaw-based organization has been active for over two decades, advocating for the protection of life, family, and parenthood.

Gracz noted that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the center helped organize an average of 150 marches annually across Polish cities. She spoke about how these public demonstrations have played a key role in promoting the protection of unborn children, particularly those with disabilities. She highlighted that the marches have helped build public support leading up to Poland’s 2020 Constitutional Court ruling, which strengthened legal protections for children diagnosed with disabilities before birth.

After the opening event, the crowd set off in a peaceful procession from the National Library to Vilnius Cathedral Square via Gediminas Avenue, carrying banners and flags with messages of hope and support for families. A commemorative concert and a series of personal testimonies followed.

Among the highlights of the event was a national drawing contest for schoolchildren titled “Aš esu dovana” (“I Am a Gift”). More than 300 submissions were received from across the country. The winning artists were presented awards onstage for their creative reflections on the value of life.

The musical program included performances by well-known artists such as Voldemars Peterson, Dalia and Julius Vaicenavičiai, and popular singer Sasha Song. Performances were accompanied by the personal testimonies of individuals whose lives have been shaped by issues surrounding life and family. International speakers from Latvia and Estonia also addressed the crowd, offering cultural and moral perspectives from across the Baltic region.

Among the speakers at Cathedral Square was lawyer and social activist Dr. Salomėja Fernandez Montojo, who addressed prevailing societal attitudes toward parenthood, stating: “Today, I see how deeply rooted is the idea that having children means losing — losing money, time, career, opportunities, and a good figure. I disagree. Having children is not losing but giving meaning to money, time, energy, opportunities, and beauty.” 

Markus Järvi, editor-in-chief of Estonia’s Objektiiv and one of the speakers, expressed his appreciation for the Vilnius march and the hope that it would inspire similar initiatives throughout the Baltic states.  

Speaking afterward in an interview, he described the limited public discourse on abortion in Estonia as a lingering consequence of the Soviet era, during which abortion was legal and widely practiced. Over time the prevalence of the procedure contributed to its emergence as a social taboo.

“Despite this, many Estonians value marriage and family life,” he said. “We need to break the societal silence on this matter in order to have honest conversations about life.”

He added that both civil society and religious institutions have a role to play in fostering more open and thoughtful dialogue on the issue. In a message directed at young people, he noted that “the sanctity of life and its reverence must be recognized as truth. Search, and you will find it.”

Professor Benas Ulevičius, dean of the faculty of Catholic theology at Vytautas Magnus University, spoke at the event and later in a brief backstage interview reflected on shifting societal values in post-Soviet Lithuania.

“Lithuania during the Soviet occupation was quite isolated,” he said. “After winning independence, the nation went through gradual changes, with more foreign products available, higher salaries, and greater comfort.”

While acknowledging the benefits of economic growth, he noted that it led to people prioritizing careers and wealth over family life and suggested that this shift left some with a sense of emptiness. He encouraged young adults to seek deeper fulfillment through family, which offers a unique kind of joy and happiness that material success alone cannot provide. 

Alongside the main stage program, Cathedral Square hosted a family-friendly educational and creative zone where visitors were invited to explore nongovernmental organization booths, sign petitions, take part in children’s activities, and learn about family support services offered by various participating organizations such as Nacionalinė šeimų ir tėvų asociacija (National Association of Families and Parents), ProLife Vilnius, and more.

The event culminated in a special Mass in Vilnius Cathedral celebrated by Father Deividas Stankevičius.

Organizers and participants expressed optimism that the March for Life in Vilnius will continue to grow in both size and impact. With increasing collaboration between civil, religious, and cultural voices, many said they see this year’s march as a turning point, one that may inspire broader conversations about life, family, and the future of society in Lithuania and across the Baltics.