Newsletter

Newsletter 51 bis

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27 September ceremony in Thil: cancelled and postponed

This brief background explains how the unveiling ceremony for the statues – those poisoned gifts from the Russian and Belarusian states – was ultimately cancelled and postponed.

On Monday 21 September, the mayor of Thil, Mr Stéphan Brusco, met with the president and vice-president of Ad Pacem – For Peace & Against War at the town hall.
For the Ad Pacem representatives, it became clear from this discussion that the mayor’s arguments were insufficient to justify holding the ceremony on Sunday 27 September. Subsequently, the Ad Pacem representatives contacted the counsellor at the Ukrainian Embassy in Paris, Mr Bohdan Vasnevskyi, to meet with him on the morning of Wednesday 23 September (see link to photo with this counsellor). At the end of this meeting, the embassy officials decided to send a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and another to the mayor of Thil (see link).

Journalists from Le Républicain Lorrain were informed that same day that this ceremony had no right to take place, as it misappropriates the memory of the Soviet women of the Rodina detachment.
The representatives of Échanges Lorraine Ukraine (ELU) joined the initiative to express their opposition to the ceremony taking place.
Thil Town Hall and the Prefecture of Nancy were informed of the counter-demonstrations planned for Sunday morning outside the mine entrance.

On Thursday morning, 24 September, Ad Pacem sent out Newsletter 51, inviting all members to come and demonstrate in Thil on Sunday 27.
On the same day, Le Républicain Lorrain, in its local edition and its ‘Region’ section, brought this ceremony to public attention and highlighted the arguments put forward by the organisations Ad Pacem and ELU in favour of its cancellation (see PDF link to article).

On Thursday evening, the Luxembourg newspaper l’Essentiel reported in its online edition at 9.26 pm that the ceremony had been postponed at the request of the French authorities.
On Friday 25 September, during the course of the day, the mayor of Thil announced in a circular that the ceremony scheduled for 27 September had been cancelled and postponed to a later date.

On Saturday morning, the association Ad Pacem – For Peace & Against War sent a letter to the President of the Republic, Mr Macron, requesting (see link) that the ‘statues of shame’ – which had already been installed, albeit covered with a sheet, in front of the mine (see photo) – be returned to the Russian and Belarusian states.

Best regards!

Claude Pantaleoni
President of Ad Pacem servandam – For Peace & Against War

Newsletter

Newsletter 51

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Should the memory of the Rodina detachment be used to glorify the totalitarian regimes of Russia and Belarus?

Invitation to join a peaceful demonstration
on Sunday 27 September from 9.30 am
on the forecourt of the mine in Thil (F)

GPS coordinates:
Latitude: 49.4667° N (49° 28’ 00” N)
Longitude: 5.9000° E (5° 54’ 00” E)

On Sunday 27 September, in Thil (near Villerupt in Meurthe-et-Moselle), statues will be unveiled in memory of the Soviet women of the Rodina detachment. These women escaped from the Nazi labour camp at Thil during the Second World War to join the French Resistance, where they fought until the end of the war.

Our association, ‘Ad Pacem servandam – For Peace and Against War’, fully recognises the merit of these heroines. We support the mayor, Mr Stéphan Brusco’s, initiative to preserve the history of their struggles against Nazism for future generations.

HOWEVER, we do not agree that representatives and diplomats from the Russian and Belarusian states should come and usurp this moment of honouring these Soviet women who fought for freedom. Indeed, Russia and Belarus are totalitarian regimes that imprison, torture and deport thousands of their own citizens who oppose them and fight for freedoms and human rights. Most are also opposed to the war of aggression against Ukraine.
Furthermore, Russia is killing, deporting and torturing tens of thousands of Ukrainians in the territories it has occupied militarily since 2014.

Dear members, you are all invited to come and publicly demonstrate your opposition to the presence of Russian and Belarusian diplomats on the free soil of France. Moreover, these statues commemorating Soviet women were funded by the Russian oil company Tatneft PJSC, which is not permitted to sell its oil in Europe.

We have notified both Thil Town Hall and the Prefecture of Meurthe-et-Moselle in Nancy of our association’s presence at the ceremony.

We hope to see you on Sunday in Thil from 9.30 am on the forecourt of the mine.
Best regards!

Claude Pantaleoni
Chairman of Ad Pacem servandam

Concerts and literary evenings

Charity concert in Serra Sant’Abbondio (Italy)

Daniel Pantaleoni

On Saturday 22 August 2026, a charity concert organised by the association Ad Pacem servandam – For Peace and Against War was held in the parish church of Serra Sant’Abbondio, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino.

In his welcome address, the president, Claude Pantaleoni, noted that this classical music event represents an opportunity for the association to draw attention to the fundamental value of peace as the supreme good, both within our communities and amongst the peoples of Europe. He also reiterated the association’s opposition to any form of war as a means of resolving conflicts and the problems of coexistence amongst peoples. The wars in Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon and Iran continue to cause death, suffering and destruction, without offering any real solution to the conflicts.

The President then drew attention to the increasing military build-up in Europe, as well as to the policy being pursued to ensure the continent’s security in the face of strained relations with Russia. Russia is attempting by all means – including open military aggression – to re-establish its sphere of influence across the territories of the former Soviet republics, which had gained political independence from Russia following the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

He emphasised that, in such a complex context, European citizens often lack sufficient and in-depth information to fully understand the political decisions currently being made. This lack of information, in his view, contributes to creating divisions amongst citizens regarding the paths to be taken and how to build a future of peace and coexistence in Europe together.

He then thanked Laura, Daniel and Michel Pantaleoni, who had prepared and performed classical pieces by Bach, Schubert, Grieg and Haydn for the occasion.

During the intervals between the musical performances, three local poets – Fabiana Merolli, Sandro Caverni and Valerio Orazi, from the group Poeti dell’Eremo – recited some of their poems dedicated to peace and the rejection of war. Music and poetry thus alternated, offering the audience various moments for reflection.

Halfway through the concert, the association’s vice-president, Natalya Pantaleoni, outlined the solidarity initiatives carried out by Ad Pacem throughout 2026 in support of the victims of the war in Ukraine, with particular attention to the women united within the Ukrainian association SEMA.

At the end of the musical and poetic performances, the president thanked everyone present and those who, on leaving the church, made a donation towards aid for the victims of the war in Ukraine.

The gathering then continued outside the church, where participants had the opportunity to continue exchanging views and discussing the issues over refreshments provided by the Ad Pacem association.

Newsletter

Newsletter 50

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Invitation to two events for peace

The organisers of the Ad Pacem association invite their members to attend the following events.

Bilingual guided tour on the history of Neunkirchen (Germany)
on Saturday 19 September

Entitled ‘A town with a rich history’, a Franco-German guided tour of the Spitzbunker in Neunkirchen and sites linked to industrial heritage will take place on Saturday 19 September 2026.

The event is organised by momentum – Kirche am Center in collaboration with the Katholische Erwachsenenbildung Saarbrücken and the association Ad Pacem servandam – For Peace and Against War. The event is taking place as part of Intercultural Week.

The Spitzbunker in Neunkirchen is a listed anti-aircraft tower dating from 1939-40. It was built according to the Winkel patent as a tall, pointed bunker on the site of the former steelworks to accommodate around 400 workers. Today it houses a permanent historical exhibition dedicated to the war years.

The event focuses on the industrial history of Neunkirchen and illustrates how deeply the town was shaped by industrialisation. Among other topics, it will explore the influence of industry on urban development and the living and working conditions of the population during that period.

The event will be held in German with explanations in French and is aimed at those wishing to discover regional history in a cross-border context.

The meeting point is at 10.30 am at momentum – Kirche am Center in Neunkirchen. The event will end there at around 2.30 pm with a light lunch.

We will set off together from Esch-sur-Alzette (L) at 8.30 am – the exact location will be communicated to participants in advance.

Bike for Climate – Bike for Peace,
cycle ride on Saturday 3 October in Orval (Belgium)

On Saturday 3 October, the next ‘Bike for Climate – bike for Peace’ will take place – our cycle ride around the Cistercian Abbey of Orval.

The meeting point is in Crusnes at 7.30 am. We’ll arrive in Orval around 9 am, from where the ride will start. At around 3.45 pm, we’ll be back near Orval Abbey.

From 4 pm to 5 pm, we’ll be meeting a Cistercian monk at the abbey to discuss the theme of peace today.

Afterwards, we will set off for home.

Inscriptions

Anyone wishing to take part in one or both events can register by 5 September:

  • by email: [email protected]
  • by telephoning Vice-President Natalya Pantaleoni: (+352) 621 280 850

We look forward to seeing many of you there to share these two opportunities to come together, learn and reflect on peace.

Kind regards,

Claude Pantaleoni
Chairman of Ad Pacem

Newsletter

Newsletter 49

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In the face of rising identity-based divisions in Europe,
let us respond with initiatives for peace!

Dear friends,

When we launched our initiative for peace and against war in 2017, we saw the danger coming primarily from Russia, which had invaded the Donbas militarily with the intention of annexing the whole of Ukraine. Our activities focused on helping victims who were fleeing or who had been imprisoned and tortured. We invited experts to share their experiences and research at conferences and in interviews with local media.

Over the years, we have come to realise – particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine from February 2022 onwards – that this war of aggression against Ukraine is having repercussions on our ways of life and thinking in the West. Even though our countries are not militarily engaged with their armed forces, the fact that we have been openly and politically supporting Ukraine for the past four years – by purchasing and sending military equipment and by welcoming millions of Ukrainian refugees – has significant consequences for our societies, which are losing hope that the war will end any time soon.
Added to this are the Russian media’s campaigns of misleading disinformation, which have been tolerated for far too long in Europe. They have undermined the spirit of solidarity that Europeans have continued to show towards the Ukrainian people. Some Europeans believe that this Russian disinformation is true, either in whole or in part. Consequently, debates over national budgets are dividing political parties, with some no longer wishing to provide military aid to Ukraine.

An increasing number of Europeans are turning towards identity-based isolationism, which finds expression in far-right parties. However, this is not a promising path for social cohesion. The Ad Pacem committee has responded by organising various activities.

On 25 April 2026, it organised an organ concert in Pergola (I) as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the war in Ukraine.
=> Solidarity Concertino

On 17 and 18 May 2026, a weekend of cycling, exploration and cultural encounters took place in Sion (F).
=> 9th Bike for climate – bike for peace

On 7 June 2026, the Ad Pacem committee invited its members on a guided tour of the former Nazi labour camp in Thil (F), a site commemorating the Second World War.
=> June 7, 2026: Visit to the Nazi labour camp in Thil (F), near Villerupt (F) and the Luxembourg border

On 13 June 2026, Ad Pacem ran an information and engagement stand at a peace tournament held in Differdange (L). The day provided an opportunity to meet the young participants, present our work and collect messages of hope for the civilian victims of the war in Ukraine.
=> A tournament in the spirit of peace and community

Wishing you a wonderful summer and a lovely holiday,

With my best regards,

Claude Pantaleoni
Chairman of Ad Pacem

Support actions for Ukraine

A tournament in the spirit of peace and community

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On Saturday 13 June 2026, a futsal tournament for peace took place in Differdange, on the outdoor pitch of the International School of Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette (EIDE). A good dozen teams took part throughout the day, in a spirit of fellowship, respect and community.

At the invitation of Sandro Sandini, a pastoral worker involved in social ministry, Ad Pacem was able to run a stand during the tournament. The stand was manned by Natalya Pantaleoni, the association’s vice-president, and Christian Welter, the treasurer.

The tournament provided a particularly conducive setting for dialogue. Between matches, many young people and visitors stopped by the stand to chat with us. In particular, we presented the Ad Pacem 2026 calendar, which vividly illustrates the awareness-raising and solidarity work carried out by our association. We also drew attention to the plight of Ukrainian civilian victims captured by Russian forces – a reality that is often overlooked, but which lies at the heart of our current commitment.

Several young participants agreed to write a few words of hope for these victims. These messages will be translated and then sent on, so that people scarred by captivity, violence and exile may receive a sign of support from Luxembourg. This simple yet deeply human gesture gave a very tangible dimension to the theme of living together: taking the time to think of those who are suffering, offering them a word of fellowship and reminding them that they have not been forgotten.

We also organised a board game on the theme of peace, which provided a simple and fun way to explore issues such as respect, mutual aid, dialogue and non-violence.

The day was also marked by a visit from Patrick Muller, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Luxembourg. To mark St Anthony’s Day, he blessed the loaves of bread, which were then shared amongst everyone present.

At the end of the tournament, each participant received a medal to remind them that what really mattered lay elsewhere: in taking part, mutual respect, team spirit and the desire to make this day a symbol of peace.

Discovering places of conflict

June 7, 2026: Visit to the Nazi labour camp in Thil (F), near Villerupt (F) and the Luxembourg border

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Guided tour along the Path of Remembrance

On Sunday, June 7, at 3:00 p.m., the former deputy mayor of Thil, Mr. Gino Bertacco, welcomed about fifteen members of the Ad Pacem association at the entrance to the site –designated a national necropolis in 1984 – for a guided tour of the camp.

As they walked along the Path of Remembrance from the parking lot at the site’s entrance to the Crypt, located high up on the hill, Mr. Bertacco provided detailed explanations to help visitors understand why the Germans built this camp in 1943 and abandoned it in September 1944 as American forces approached following the Normandy landings.

Surrounding the parking lot at the entrance are sculptures by various artists that symbolize the barbarity that took place in and around this Nazi camp – the only one built by the Nazis on French soil.

The Path of Remembrance leads to a landscaped area where a crypt stands; it was built to house a crematorium and all the artifacts found that prove the existence of this concentration camp. Along the path, starting in the 1970s, artists have placed sculptures depicting the atrocities that took place there.

In front of the crypt, Mr. Bertacco explained how the camp was built, starting in early 1943, in such a way that it would not be visible to residents living in the surrounding area. During the German occupation, most of the French residents of Thil had fled to the Gironde region, while those of Italian origin remained in the village. Many Italians worked in the mine alongside the prisoners. However, the homes of the French residents were looted during their absence. When these people returned from Gironde after Thil’s liberation, they went up to the camp, where they tore down and took everything made of wood. All the wood was thus used by the civilian population for heating after the war. This is the main reason why there are no traces left of the camp’s existence.

Only two posts from the old gate have been recovered; they now stand at the entrance to the small plaza in front of the Crypt. It is also here that an impressive sculpture stands, depicting a prisoner entangled in barbed wire, either falling or trying to get back up. It is the work of students from the Lycée Jean Macé in Villerupt, who donated it to the site in 1978.

Prisoners who died in the camp or in the mine were cremated in the open air using kerosene in front of the mine entrance on wooden railroad ties. The draft of air coming from the mine kept the fire burning. But since the smell could be detected far and wide, the Nazi commander, Eugen Walter Büttner, ordered that the bodies be burned on wood piles on the hill above the camp. Yet the smell still lingered in the surrounding area.

This prompted the commander to bring in an oven that had been used at the slaughterhouse in the town of Villerupt to burn animal remains. It was set up not far from where the bodies had previously been burned. But with the end of the war approaching as the Americans advanced from the west, only two or three prisoners are believed to have been burned there.

Inside the Crypt, Mr. Bertacco used a scale model to show how the camp was laid out. The model was reconstructed based on aerial photographs taken by the Allies. On one side of the camp lived the Germans, and on the other, lined up in rows of two, were the eight barracks, each housing about a hundred prisoners. Their numbers were checked regularly every day using the stone that each prisoner had to pick up in the morning on his way to the Tiercelet mine and deposit in the evening, upon his return, in front of his barrack. In the crypt, a drawing made by a prisoner shows the prisoners descending toward the mine in their gray uniforms striped with white, each holding a stone.

Most of the camp’s prisoners were skilled workers: electricians, machinists, fitters, lathe operators, millers, etc. When a prisoner died, the camp’s SS commander, Büttner, had him replaced by a prisoner from the Natzweiler-Struthof camp in Alsace. Jewish prisoners who had come from Natzweiler-Struthof and Soviet female prisoners who spent the night at the Errouville camp worked in the Tiercelet Mine.

This Sunday, the group was unable to visit the Tiercelet Mine, where the 800 male prisoners from the Thil camp and the 400 Soviet women from the Errouville camp came to work. The work was intended to manufacture parts for the V1 rocket following the destruction of Peenemünde in northern Germany by aerial bombardment.

The Tiercelet Mine is currently closed and cannot be visited until the ongoing restructuring is complete.

At the end of the tour, the association invited everyone to enjoy some drinks and homemade treats.

Newsletter

Newsletter 48

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1. Early 2026: our aid to victims of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

From January to May 2026, our association, Ad Pacem, continued to support those affected by the war in Ukraine. Our aid comprised both humanitarian deliveries and targeted medical and infrastructure support.

Our main projects were as follows:

Humanitarian aid deliveries

Members of our Ad Pacem association donated clothing, shoes and bed linen, which we sent to refugee reception centres in Dnipro (=> 22 and 27 February 2026: aid sent to Dnipro), to the Greek Catholic parish in Berezhany (=> 21 and 25 February 2026: aid sent to Berezhany (western Ukraine)), and to the shelter for mothers and children in Ivano-Frankivsk (=> Clothing for Ivano-Frankivsk).

Medical aid for the military hospital in Kyiv

Medical supplies were sent on a regular basis, including dressings, single-use syringes, plasters of various types and sizes, surgical masks, protective gowns, catheters, disinfectants, painkillers, orthoses and other emergency supplies (=> Medical aid from Luxembourg to Kyiv (January 2026), 31 January and 4 February 2026: Aid to the Kyiv Military Hospital).

Support for the “Hospitallers”

Over the course of the year, power banks and multivitamin supplements were purchased for the “Hospitallers”, a Ukrainian association of volunteer doctors and nurses who provide first aid to wounded soldiers just behind the front line (=> Our association “Ad Pacem” continues to support aid workers who save lives on the front line every day).

Support for the diagnostic centre in Bucha

The necessary equipment was purchased for the physiotherapy room at the diagnostic centre (=> In April 2026, Ad Pacem provided vital support to the counselling and diagnostic centre in Bucha).

Support for the shelter in Ivano-Frankivsk

We also funded the replacement of the doors at the shelter for mothers and children in Ivano-Frankivsk (=> 5 doors for the women’s and children’s shelter in Ivano-Frankivsk (Western Ukraine)).

2. Invitation – Sunday 7 June 2026, from 3.00 pm to 5.30 pm: guided tour in Thil (F), near the Luxembourg border

We invite you to a guided tour in Thil, in Meurthe-et-Moselle, at the site of the former forced labour camp established by the Nazi occupiers during the Second World War.

In March 1942, a train brought Soviet women to the Errouville camp (F). Every day at five o’clock in the morning, the five or six hundred women had to go to the Thil labour camp (F) to load blocks of iron ore onto the mine cars that carried them out of the mine. In June 1944, eight hundred Hungarian Jews, all metalworkers, were transferred from Auschwitz and Dora to the Thil camp. In the mine’s underground tunnels, they were forced to manufacture V1 flying bombs. Thil is also the site of the escape of thirty-seven Soviet women who joined the French Resistance.

To learn more about the history of these men and women, we invite you to join the guided tour we are organising on Sunday 7 June 2026 in Thil. We will meet at 3.00 pm in the car park of the new Thil cemetery, below the former camp.

For organisational reasons, please register by email at [email protected] by 5 June. Participation is free of charge.

We look forward to seeing many of you on 7 June in Thil and send you our best regards.

Claude Pantaleoni
Chairman Ad Pacem servandam

Bike for climate – bike for peace

9th Bike for climate – bike for peace

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Cycle ride in the Toul region along the Moselle (France)

On 16 and 17 May 2026, the Ad Pacem committee organised a cycle ride in the Toul region, along the River Moselle. The small group met up on Saturday 16 May at 10am at the Villey-le-Sec campsite, situated between Nancy and Toul, on the banks of the Moselle. Almost the entire route followed the river through a green, rolling landscape. The cycle paths are well maintained and offer spots for a packed lunch or a break.

In Liverdun, situated near the Moselle between Nancy and Toul, the group stopped to visit the upper town centre with its restored castle.

River-based barge haulage was an activity practised along the Moselle until the 1970s. It ceased when barges could be propelled by diesel engines.

On Sunday, 17 May, the group visited a place of pilgrimage in Saxon-Sion dating back to the time when Celtic priests worshipped their gods there. Since the Middle Ages, it has been a place of pilgrimage for Christians. Today the basilica is dedicated to Our Lady of Peace.

A meeting had been arranged in advance with the rector of the site, Father Marc Haeussler, to discuss the theme of peace, which is important to the Christian faith. This meeting was appreciated by all, as Father Haeussler had prepared it well. The whole group was able to explore the theme of peace in greater depth, given the increasing prevalence of wars in the news.

After the service at the basilica, the group had lunch at the Auberge d’Haroué near the castle of the same name, sampling the local cuisine.

In the afternoon, a guided tour inside Haroué Castle gave to the group a sense of the grandeur and beauty of this castle, which has been in private hands for three hundred years. Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon (1679–1754), a leading figure in Lorraine, a Grandee of Spain, Viceroy of Tuscany, and Grand Master of the Wardrobe to the Duke of Lorraine (1679–1729), undertook the construction with the architect Germain Boffrand (1667–1754). He called upon the finest artists of his time: the sculptor Barthélémy Guibal and the metalwork artist Jean Lamour, known for their contribution to Place Stanislas in Nancy, and the painter Pillement. The château, which houses beautiful and large tapestries, still belongs to the family of the Princes of Beauvau-Craon, who have chosen to entrust its opening to the public to the Centre des monuments nationaux since 2021. The château has some distinctive features: 365 windows, 52 fireplaces, 12 towers and 4 bridges.

This cycling trip allowed everyone to recharge their batteries, both physically and spiritually, whilst enjoying nature and well-preserved historic sites.

Russia’s war against Ukraine, Support actions for Ukraine

5 doors for the women’s and children’s shelter in Ivano-Frankivsk (Western Ukraine)

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In early April 2026, the director of the “Time of Kindness and Mercy” women’s and children’s shelter in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ms Valeriya Kushnirenko, approached “Ad Pacem” with a request for financial support to replace five doors in the shelter.

The shelter is located in a very old building. Thirty-five people currently live there – women with children, the majority of whom are refugees who lived in eastern Ukraine before the Russian war of aggression. Due to heavy use, the old doors were so badly worn that they could no longer be repaired.

“Ad Pacem” funded the new doors in full, thereby contributing to safe and dignified living conditions for the mothers and their children. The home’s management, led by the director Ms Kushnirenko, as well as all the residents, would like to express their sincere thanks to “Ad Pacem”.

Russia’s war against Ukraine, Support actions for Ukraine

In April 2026, Ad Pacem provided vital support to the counselling and diagnostic centre in Bucha

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The town of Bucha was severely damaged during the Russian invasion in 2022. The centre’s premises were used as headquarters by the occupying forces. Medical equipment, diagnostic instruments, furniture and the entire infrastructure were destroyed or severely damaged.

Thanks to the support of dedicated individuals, the medical team was able to gradually resume its work. The doctors have gradually started to work again. Most people have once again access to medical care.

Nevertheless, significant problems at the centre remain unresolved.

Amid the ongoing war, the number of veterans and people requiring rehabilitation for their injuries is growing in the community of Bucha. Therefor a comprehensive rehabilitation department has been opened at the centre, working closely with the physiotherapy department. This department also underwent damage and lost some of its technical equipment.

Moreover physiotherapy plays a central role in restoring health. It helps people with musculoskeletal conditions – such as injuries, osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis or scoliosis – to return to a normal life. It is particularly important for war veterans who require comprehensive and individualised rehabilitation. Furthermore, physiotherapy contributes to pain relief, accelerated healing and recovery following surgery. Patients with chronic inflammatory and neurological conditions are also assisted at this centre.

High-quality care requires modern equipment and appropriate treatment conditions. This is where our association Ad Pacem helps by procuring essential medical equipment. The following were purchased in early 2026:

  • a device for low-frequency magnetic therapy, the “Magniter AMT-02”;
  • an 8-channel muscle stimulation device (AEST-01) for restoring muscle tone;
  • a device for pressotherapy and lymphatic drainage (8-chamber system).

The provision of this equipment will significantly improve rehabilitation services at the centre. The management, doctors and patients of the diagnostic centre in Bucha would like to express their sincere gratitude to the “Ad Pacem” association for its valuable assistance.

Newsletter

Newsletter 47

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1. Minutes of the 9th General Meeting

On Saturday 7 March 2026, the 9th General Meeting of our association ‘Ad Pacem servandam – For Peace and Against War’ took place at the St Willibrord Parish Centre in Bascharage (L), from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm.

The agenda included the opening of the meeting by the chair, the 2025 activity report, the 2025 financial report, the 2025 auditor’s report, as well as the election of the new Board of Directors and the new auditor. Mr Patrice Picart, who has served as auditor since the association’s second year, was warmly thanked for his commitment.
The treasurer presented the 2026 provisional budget and the chair proposed the membership fees for 2026. During the ‘Any Other Business’ section, several upcoming projects were presented. The General Meeting concluded with a drinks reception.

The detailed minutes of the General Meeting can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
=> Minutes of the 9th General Meeting

2. Call for renewal of membership fees for 2026

‘Ad Pacem servandam – For Peace and Against War’ is a non-profit organisation. It receives no subsidies from any state or from any other state, political, religious or cultural organisation. This independence guarantees the objectivity and transparency of its activities.

The committee members are all volunteers and organise initiatives, aid for war victims using the membership fees paid by the association’s members. In 2025, there were one hundred and twenty-one (121) members.

Members who have not yet paid their membership fee for the current year are invited to do so by transferring €15 (€5 for students) to our current account, quoting ‘Ad Pacem 2026 Membership Fee’:
=> Pour la Paix et contre la Guerre / IBAN: LU28 0099 7800 0064 0276 / BIC: CCRALULL

Payment can also be made via Payconiq:

By supporting our initiative through your membership fee, you are making a tangible contribution to a better life together in peace.

With best regards,

Claude Pantaleoni
Chairman Ad Pacem servandam

Russia’s war against Ukraine, Support actions for Ukraine

Our association “Ad Pacem” continues to support aid workers who save lives on the front line every day

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In early April 2026, the Ukrainian aid organisation Hospitallers (to which the proceeds from the 2025 Ad Pacem calendar were donated) received our humanitarian aid. It is a Ukrainian organisation of volunteer paramedics and medical staff who work for free, directly behind the front line, under very difficult conditions. At constant risk of being killed by Russian soldiers or their drones, they evacuate wounded soldiers and provide first aid.

We have sent them power banks and vitamin pills. The vitamins are primarily intended for doctors on rotating shifts. They often work whilst exhausted, under stress and without adequate nutrition. These vitamins help to strengthen the immune system and restore strength. Some were handed over to wounded medics who are undergoing rehabilitation.

Power banks are an essential necessity in field conditions. They enable phones, radios and medical devices to be charged, allowing staff to stay in contact and work in areas where there is no access to electricity.

Our thanks go to everyone who helped make these initiatives possible.

Concerts and literary evenings, Support actions for Ukraine

Solidarity Concertino

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Laura and Daniel at the organ in Pergola (Italy)

On Saturday 25 April 2026, following the 6 pm Mass, Laura and Daniel Pantaleoni gave an organ concert in Pergola Cathedral in Italy (Marche region).

At the start, the association’s president, Claude Pantaleoni, emphasised the importance of peace in our times. Investing more in education and community life is becoming a necessity. Listening to organ music provides moments of peace and well-being for the human soul. 

The pieces performed by Laura and Daniel were works by Bach, Pachelbel, Vierne and Isoir.

During the interval, the vice-president of the Ad Pacem association, Natalya Pantaleoni, explained which war victims in Ukraine the aid had been sent to and how every effort is made to ensure the consignments reach their intended destination. All aid is currently being channelled to victims of the Russian war of aggression and occupation.

At the end of the concert, everyone was invited to enjoy refreshments in the cloister adjacent to the cathedral.

On leaving, there was an opportunity to make a donation of any amount to support the victims of the war in Ukraine.