Communiqué from the 395th Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Preparations for the session of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, the new pastoral program of the Church in Poland, the 37th World Youth Day, the conflict in Ukraine, and the 80th anniversary of the tragic events in Volhynia were the main topics of the 395th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, held on June 12-14 in Lidzbark Warmiński.

The venue of the summer Assembly was related to the Copernican anniversaries: the 550th anniversary of the birth and 480th anniversary of the death of Nicolaus Copernicus, who was connected with the land of Warmia for much of his life.

The main topic of the meeting was preparations for the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, whose next session will be held in Rome this October. For the first time since the pandemic, the Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference was attended by European bishops, who shared the progress of the synodal process in their countries. “Syntheses from the other continents highlight many important questions, such as ecological problems, social injustice, and witness in the face of persecution. The bishops debated the position to be presented in Rome by a delegation of Polish bishops”, reads the communiqué.

During the Assembly, the bishops were introduced to the new pastoral program for the Church in Poland for the year 2023/2024: “I participate in the community of the Church”. The Second Congress of Practical Theology, “The Parish of Tomorrow”, scheduled for September 18-21 this year in Licheń, will provide new directions for the work of Polish parishes.

In connection with the 37th World Youth Day, to be held in Lisbon in late July and early August this year, with Pope Francis presiding, the bishops “express gratitude to all those who will take the effort to make the pilgrimage to Lisbon and encourage others to join them spiritually”.

The bishops affirmed their prayers for Ukraine, which is resisting Russian aggression. They appealed for the quickest possible and most equitable end to the conflict and thanked all organizations and individuals “for their continued assistance offered to the war refugees who find haven in our homeland, as well as for delivering humanitarian aid to those who remain in Ukraine”. They also asked for continued prayers for peace. The Act of Entrustment of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be said in all Polish parishes on June 17.

On the 80th anniversary of the tragic events in Volhynia, the bishops assured of their prayers for the intention of those murdered. The next step on the road to Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation will be a joint statement by the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki, and the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, to be signed in Warsaw on July 7. The bishops recalled in the communiqué that „forgiveness does not mean forgetting, but is a precondition in the process of reconciliation, which can only be built on the foundation of love and truth”.

In addition, the bishops extended an invitation to the 39th National Pilgrimage of Married Couples and Families to Jasna Góra, which will take place on September 23-24 this year. It will also mark the beginning of the journey of the relics of the Ulma Family in Polish dioceses. The beatification of this Family will take place in Markowa on September 10, 2023.

Furthermore, the bishops called “for prudence and social dialogue and the building of national reconciliation”. On the occasion of the end of the school year, they thanked parents, teachers, educators, catechists, and chaplains „for the effort of teaching and raising children and young people”.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The full text of the communique follows:

Communiqué from the 395th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The 395th Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, presided over by Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, was held on June 12-14 in Lidzbark Warmiński.

1. The venue of the Assembly was related to the Copernican anniversaries: the 550th anniversary of the birth and 480th anniversary of the death of Nicolaus Copernicus, who was connected with the land of Warmia for much of his life. Apart from Lidzbark Warmiński, the bishops celebrated the Eucharist also in the Archdiocesan Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Frombork, Nicolaus Copernicus’ burial place. Furthermore, they prayed in the Shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Peace in Stoczek Klasztorny, the venue of internment of the Millennium Primate, Blessed Stefan Wyszyński.
2. The main topic of the meeting was preparations for the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, whose next session will be held in Rome this October. The European synthesis reveals strong variations within individual local churches. The same is true about the other continents. In addition to shared questions, such as the question of decision-making in the Church, synodal governance, the crisis of the family, and concern for the marginalized and excluded, local Churches have often emphasized their own priorities. Syntheses from the other continents highlight many important questions, such as ecological problems, social injustice, and witness in the face of persecution. The bishops debated the position to be presented in Rome by a delegation of Polish bishops.
3. In light of the above, statements by bishops from other European countries, were most enriching. For the first time since the pandemic, the Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference hosted European bishops, who shared the progress of the synodal process in their countries and the issues topical for their local Churches.
4. The bishops were introduced to the new pastoral program for the Church in Poland for the year 2023/2024: “I participate in the community of the Church”, to be implemented in all the parishes across Poland. The Second Congress of Practical Theology, “The Parish of Tomorrow”, scheduled to be held on September 18-21 this year in Licheń, will provide new directions for the operation of Polish parishes.
5. The 37th World Youth Day will be held in Lisbon in late July and early August this year, with Pope Francis presiding. The meeting will be attended by over 20,000 young people from Poland. Aware of the fact that the World Youth Day is a major stepping stone of the Church, the bishops express their gratitude to all those who will take the effort to make the pilgrimage to Lisbon and encourage others to join them spiritually.
6. The bishops affirm their prayers for Ukraine, which is resisting Russian aggression. They appeal for the quickest possible and most equitable end to this dramatic conflict and thank all organizations and individuals for their continued assistance offered to the war refugees who find haven in our homeland, as well as for delivering humanitarian aid to those who remain in Ukraine. Polish bishops ask for continued prayers for peace. In this spirit, on June 17, The Act of Entrustment of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be said in all Polish parishes.
7. On the 80th anniversary of the tragic events in Volhynia, the pastors of the Catholic Church in Poland assure of their prayers for the intention of those murdered and of their profound respect for the suffering of the families of all the casualties of this massacre. The bishops have welcomed with hope the announcement of next steps on the path of Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation, which will be expressed e.g. in a joint statement by the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki, and the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. The document will be signed in Warsaw on July 7. The bishops recall that forgiveness does not mean forgetting, but is a precondition in the process of reconciliation, which can only be built on the foundation of love and truth.
8. The bishops invite the faithful to take part in the 39th National Pilgrimage of Married Couples and Families to Jasna Góra, which will take place on September 23-24 this year. It will also mark the beginning of the journey of the relics of the Ulma Family in Polish dioceses. The beatification of this Family will take place in Markowa on September 10, 2023.
9. Referring to the Position of the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference of May 2, 2023, in the context of the upcoming elections, the bishops once again express their conviction that “respecting the legitimate autonomy of the democratic order … even today, regardless of deep differences and divisions, Polish politics can and should remain a judicious concern for the common cause”.
10. The bishops invite the faithful to take part in the 39th National Pilgrimage of Married Couples and Families to Jasna Góra, which will take place on September 23-24 this year. It will also mark the beginning of the journey of the relics of the Ulma Family in Polish dioceses. The beatification of this Family will take place in Markowa on September 10, 2023. The bishops reiterate that the Church is decidedly against any form of violence, which is especially atrocious if it targets children.
11. The bishops entrust to God all the matters concerning the Homeland and the Church. They call for prudence and social dialogue as well as the construction of national reconciliation. On the occasion of the end of the school year, they thanked parents, teachers, educators, catechists, and chaplains for the effort of teaching and raising children and young people. The bishop confer their pastoral blessing on all Compatriots in Poland and abroad.

The communique was signed by the pastors of the Catholic Church in Poland present at the 395th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

Lidzbark Warmiński, 14 June 2023

Translation from Polish original: M. Turski / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference