WORLD WAR II
The Pope’s words for the 70th anniversaryThe Holy Father commemorated the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War II celebrated September 1st. Following the end of Wednesday’s general audience the Pope greeted Polish pilgrims and said, “Europe and contemporary society need a spirit of communion”. “Human tragedies and the absurdity of war remain in the memory of peoples”. “Let us ask God that the spirit of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation may pervade the hearts of humankind. Europe and the world today need a spirit of communion. Let us build it upon Christ and His Gospel, upon the foundation of charity and truth.” His Holiness imparted his blessing to those present and “to all those who contribute to the establishment of a climate of peace”.Poland: new relations with Russia? “Celebrations for the 70th anniversary of World War II cannot be reduced to recollections of September 1st 1939, the day in which Poland was invaded by the Soviet Union”, declared Msgr. Josef Michalik, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference (KEP) in light of the historical visit of Russian premier Vladimir Putin to Gdansk with other heads of government and state. In commenting on the close alliance between Hitler and Stalin few days before the war broke out, KEP President remarked: “We do not wish to foment differences but just focus on the truth. Thus, also as relates to these tragic historical events it is necessary to find a new path in the relations between Poland and Russia”. “The Polish Church will always endeavour to promote forgiveness in full respect of the truth regarding the beginning of WWII”, underlined Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz during the commemorations for September 1st. The attempts to “falsify historical events” – he declared – “are unworthy of mankind”. “Such attempts cause much pain and concern”, His Eminence remarked referring to Moscow’s denial of events such as the invasion of Poland in 1939, the murder of Katyn, the repressions inflicted at the time of the Communist regime and, further down in history although vividly impressed in our memories, the Country’s division on the part of the Tsars. Following the publication of Putin’s letter “to the Polish People” on the eve of the commemorations in Gdansk Msgr. Tadeusz Zycinski envisages the possibility of “a radical change in the relations between the Polish Church and Moscow’s patriarchate as well as between the two peoples”. According to Msgr. Henryk Muszynski “the true reconciliation between the two peoples is a long process that requires dialogue at all levels: political, economical, historical and religious”. Msgr. Muszynski said Putin’s letter “bears the premise for an agreement”. In his view, although “the red army and the allied forces – including the Poles – won World War II together”, Polish and Russian people still have to win “the battle of memory”. Commemoration in Berlin On August 30 the Bishops’ Conferences of Poland and Germany commemorated in Berlin the 70th anniversary since the beginning of World War II with a Mass presided over by the archbishop of Berlin Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky. During the religious ceremony the archbishop of Bamberg, Msgr. Ludwig Schick recalled the process of reconciliation begun in 1965 with an exchange of letters between the Bishops’ Conferences of the two Countries demanding recognition of “the responsibilities and the failures before and after WWII which determined its eruption”. “Politics cannot afford to undermine peace when nationalistic sentiments flare up regardless of the good of mankind”, affirmed Msgr. Schick, who chairs the German chapter of the contact panel between the two Bishops Conferences. His Polish counterpart, Msgr. Wiktor Skworc, said during the homily, “The last war destroyed the very foundations of the human person and his achievements”. Therefore, “the German and Polish Churches ought to be united and call for peace for us and for the world”, avoiding the mistake of “counting the victims and of measuring the intensity of sorrow accordingly”. Also the archbishop of Warsaw Msgr. Kazimiercz Nycz encouraged prayers “for the reconciliation of German and Polish Catholics. War” – he continued – “is the defeat of true humanism and the catastrophe of humanity as a whole”. According to the archbishop “neighbouring European countries are called to seek ongoing paths for friendly relations”. The President of Germany, Horst Köhler, attended the Mass celebrated in St. Hedwig’s Cathedral along with Polish ambassador Marek Prawda.
