POLAND
The gift of John Paul II to his compatriots
“Today the Church in Poland is celebrating the ‘Day of the Pope’. It is a particular time of prayer for the beatification of the Servant of God John Paul II, of reflection on his teaching and of charitable action according to his appeals. Spiritually I associate myself with this initiative and extend my heartfelt blessing to you all”, said BENEDICT XVI , after his recitation of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, 14 October: the Pope was addressing, in particular, the many Polish pilgrims gathered in the square to commemorate John Paul II, who was elected to the throne of Peter 29 years ago, on 16 October 1978. 29 YEARS AFTER. In Poland the Sunday preceding the anniversary of John Paul II’s election is celebrated in a special way, with a series of events aimed at preserving the spiritual legacy that the Polish Pope left to his compatriots. This year the commemoration began with a debate at the University of Warsaw, dedicated to the memory of John Paul II as defender of human dignity. Monsignor PIETRO PAROLIN , Under-Secretary for Relations with States of the Vatican Secretariat of State, dedicated his address to the crucial importance of John Paul II for Vatican diplomacy as a means of defending human rights and human dignity. ON THE SIDE OF THE WEAK. Cardinal STANISLAW DZIWISZ , celebrating a solemn liturgy in the sanctuary of Divine Mercy at Lagiewniki on 14 October, said in his homily that “the Pope was always on the side of the suffering and against those who injure and kill”. Recording the life of the Pope whose private secretary he was for 26 years, Cardinal Dziwisz urged the faithful to express their gratitude to John Paul II “for his continual insistence on the dignity of the human person and for everything he did as Pope to ensure that no one should be forced to work as a slave”. “Wherever human life was threatened, he was there, with his prayer and his charity”, pointed out the present Archbishop of Krakow. He placed particular emphasis on the fact that “the Servant of God transmitted to the Church and to the whole world the words of hope that opened the way to a better future.” AN IMMENSE GIFT. The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop JOZEF MICHALIK , in his homily in Warsaw Cathedral last Sunday, recalled that “during the pontificate of John Paul II religion became a source of change, of freedom and of liberation achieved without bloodshed”. He continued by pointing out that John Paul II “revolutionised people’s hearts, on whatever side they stood”. “The Pope spoke to everyone; he aroused the consciences of friends and foes, believers and non-believers, for they too have a conscience”. Archbishop STANISLAW GADECKI of Poznan, during a liturgy dedicated to the commemoration of John Paul II, spoke of the threats to the dignity of man such as abortion, euthanasia and genetic experiments on human beings. Archbishop PIOTR LIBERA of Plock, in turn, recalled the pontificate of John Paul II as “a boundless gift, an immense gift”. Recalling the Pope’s first journey to Poland, he remarked that this pilgrimage “revived in us all a dignity on a scale so huge as to shake the very foundations of Central and Eastern Europe under the yoke of the Communist regime”. The Polish bishops in recent days have often mentioned the Foundation of the New Millennium created by the Polish episcopate to support the education of children from poor families in the smaller towns and villages of Poland. Last year, during the “Day of the Pope”, 6.2 million zlotys (over 1.5 million euros) were collected to help 1800 children. YOUNG MISSIONARIES. Next Sunday, 21 October, the Polish Church will celebrate its 81st Mission Day, which opens a week especially dedicated to the work of missionaries in the world. At the present time 2106 Polish religious and laypeople are working in various countries in all the continents. This year’s Mission Week will especially place the emphasis on the contribution of the young, who recently met at Poznan (28-29 September) on the occasion of the 5th Youth Missionary Congress. The congress “All peoples praise the Lord”, held by the mission-Aid Societies in Poland, was aimed at raising the awareness of youth in missionary problems. According to the Rev. EUGENISZ SZYSZKA , national secretary of two of the Pontifical Mission-Aid Societies, “the young are very open to missionary questions and only need to be guided”.
