The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference: I call upon all people of good will not to destroy the legacy of John Paul II

The Chairman of the Polish Bishops’ Conference stressed that St. John Paul II is one of the most eminent popes and of the greatest Poles: “the Polish Pope has been a moral yardstick, a teacher of the faith and an intercessor in heaven” for millions of Poles. The Archbishop added that “Under the circumstances, it comes as a shock that attempts are made to discredit John Paul II himself and his legacy, all in the name of concern with truth and good.”

Archbishop Gądecki observed that “The authors of the discrediting opinions have come up with a biased and often a-historic assessment of Karol Wojtyła, disregarding the wider context and uncritically accepting as credible the documents created by the Secret Police,” and added that “they failed to take into account the reports and studies which credibly show his words and deeds.”

Archbishop Gądecki stressed that starting from John Paul II's decision, “the Church has made a strong effort to establish structures and develop unambiguous procedures to ensure the safety of children and young people, to duly punish the perpetrators of sexual crimes and, above all, to provide help to the victims.”

He added that defending the sanctity and greatness of John Paul II does not mean claiming that he could not have made mistakes. “Being a shepherd of the Church at a time of the division of Europe into the West and the Soviet Bloc implied having to face daunting challenges. One should also be aware that at that time, not only in Poland, the regulations were different than today, there was a different social consciousness and customary ways of solving problems,” recalled the Archbishop.

“I therefore call upon all people of good will not to destroy the common good, of which the legacy of John Paul II is no doubt a part. Poles should remember the blessing offered to us by Providence through this Pope,” urged the Chairman.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE
ON PUBLICATIONS REGARDING METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP OF KRAKOW,
CARDINAL KAROL WOJTYŁA

St. John Paul II is one of the most eminent popes and greatest Poles. His papal preaching, apostolic visits and diplomatic efforts have contributed to the spiritual growth of millions of people around the world. For them, the Polish Pope has consistently been a moral yardstick, a teacher of the faith and an intercessor in heaven.

Under the circumstances, it comes as a shock that attempts are made to discredit John Paul II himself and his legacy, all in the name of concern with truth and good. The authors of the discrediting opinions have come up with a biased and often a-historic assessment of Karol Wojtyła, disregarding the wider context and uncritically accepting as credible the documents created by the Secret Police. In doing so, they failed to take into account existing reports and studies that credibly portray his words and deeds. The members of the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference have already stressed once (18 November 2022) that the media assault on Cardinal Karol Wojtyła and then on the Polish Pope and his pontificate has more profound causes.

At this point, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who have recently defended the legacy and person of St. John Paul II, who, among other things, contributed to the liberation of Poland and other countries from Soviet communism.

Starting from John Paul II’s decision, the Church has made a strong effort to establish structures and develop unambiguous procedures to ensure the safety of children and young people, to duly punish the perpetrators of sexual crimes and, above all, to provide help to the victims. Issuing the document Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela for the entire Church, recognising the evil done to a child in the sexual sphere as one of the gravest crimes, John Paul II obliged all the bishops’ conferences around the globe to introduce detailed regulations of conduct in such cases. This was indeed an unprecedented, breakthrough decision.

The defence of the sanctity and greatness of John Paul II does not mean claiming that he could not have made mistakes. Being a shepherd of the Church at a time of the division of Europe into the West and the Soviet Bloc implied having to face daunting challenges. One should also be aware that at that time, not only in Poland, the regulations were different than today, and so was social awareness and customary ways of solving problems.

I therefore call upon all people of good will not to destroy the common good, of which the legacy of John Paul II is no doubt a part. Poles should remember the blessing offered to us by Providence through this Pope.

Warsaw, 9 March 2023

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki
Metropolitan Archbishop of Poznań
President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Translated by M. Turski / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference