Bishop Recalls Fragility of Freedom on Anniversary of Candle Demonstration

Bishop Ján Bober marked the 38th anniversary of Slovakia's historic Candle Demonstration, warning that "freedom is fragile" during commemorative events. The bishop recalled how the Catholic Church in 1988 demanded not only respect for religious freedom but also called for full observance of civil rights. The Candle Demonstration was a pivotal moment in Czechoslovak history when thousands of Catholics gathered in Bratislava on March 25, 1988, to protest religious persecution under the communist regime, marking one of the first major public demonstrations that would eventually contribute to the Velvet Revolution of 1989.