Communiqué from a Meeting of the Council of Diocesan Bishops of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

This traditional session of diocesan bishops took place on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The session was presided over by Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

As for the first Roman session of the Synod on Synodality, to be held in October this year, the bishops familiarised themselves with the Instrumentum laboris, a working document drafted for the purpose of the debates. As the communiqué stresses, the document “is more of a description of the methodology adopted than a theological elaboration of the questions addressed.” The bishops added, that the Instrumentum laboris is to “help the participants hear during the synod the voices from different parts of the Church and discover among them those that are especially inspired by the Holy Spirit. This, in turn, will help to better respond to the pastoral challenges of the present time and to proclaim the Gospel more efficiently.”

The bishops stressed in the communiqué that the 37th World Youth Day was a unique catechesis and an experience of the communion of the Catholic Church. The bishops called on chaplains to recognise together with young people in their parishes and communities “how to continue this work in everyday life.” The bishops observed that “The first step to building a living and authentic Church may be to ‘shorten the distance’ between the young and the clergy. It is necessary to move away from a Church understood solely as an institution. It needs to be made into a space of encounter and prayer where we can hear one another.”

The bishops recalled that on September 10 this year we will witness a unique event: the entire family, Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children, will be elevated to the glory of the altars. Inviting the public to pray together during the ceremony, the bishops noted that Pope Francis’ decision to beatify the entire family confirms that “The decision of Pope Francis to beatify the entire family reaffirms that the Catholic Church always defends the truth about the sanctity of the family, which is the fundamental community of love, and the truth of human life, lasting from the moment of conception until natural death. The story of the Ulma Family is also a call to respect for all people, regardless of their origin.”

The bishops pointed out that in October we will celebrate the 45th anniversary of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła’s election to the See of Peter. One of the commemorations highlights will be the Eucharist celebrated in the Vatican Basilica on October 16. To mark the anniversary, the bishops encouraged a deeper reflection on this unique pontificate and the continued relevancy of St. John Paul II’s teachings.

As for the ongoing election campaign in Poland, the bishops urged “that it should be fair and that it should truly enable the agendas of the various candidates and groups to be known.” Referring to the Position of the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops' Conference of May 2 this year, in the context of the upcoming elections, the bishops stressed the honourable aspect of political service. Once again, they called on politicians of all parties “to avoid the temptation of demagoguery and populism, ruthless discrediting of opponents or fuelling the existing deep divisions with unnecessary emotions” in the name of responsibility for the fate of our Homeland in their electoral competition. They also encouraged people to fulfil their civic duty in the spirit of responsibility for our Homeland.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The full text of the communiqué follows:

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE COUNCIL OF DIOCESAN BISHOPS OF THE POLISH BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE
AFTER A MEETING IN JASNA GÓRA ON 25 AUGUST 2023

The Council of Diocesan Bishops, presided over by Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, met in Jasna Góra on 25 August 2023, on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The principal questions addressed by the bishops were the first session of the Synod on Synodality beginning in Rome at the end of September, the just concluded World Youth Day, and the upcoming beatification of the Ulma family.

1. The first general assembly of the Synod will take place in October this year in Rome. The bishops familiarised themselves with the Instrumentum laboris, a working document. It is more of a description of the methodology adopted than a theological elaboration of the questions addressed. On the one hand, it reiterates the main assumptions of the synodal mode of discernment and the very essence of synodality, and on the other hand, it presents the main themes that resounded during the earlier, diocesan, national and continental phases of the synod. It is to help the participants hear during the synod the voices from different parts of the Church and discover among them those that are especially inspired by the Holy Spirit. This, in turn, will help to better respond to the pastoral challenges of the present time and to proclaim the Gospel more efficiently.

2. In the context of this year’s motto of the pastoral program of the Church in Poland: “I Believe in Christ’s Church”, the bishops underlined that the 37th World Youth Day was a unique catechesis and an experience of the communion of the Catholic Church. The meeting, chaired by the Peter of our time, Pope Francis, attended by 700 bishops, 10,000 presbyters, many consecrated persons, and 1.5 million young people from 200 countries around the world, showed the dynamic Church. It enabled its participants to experience a community of faith and fraternity. The bishops call on pastors to recognise together with young people in their parishes and communities how to continue this work in everyday life. The first step to building a living and authentic Church may be to “shorten the distance” between the young and the clergy. It is necessary to move away from a Church understood solely as an institution. It needs to be made into a space of encounter and prayer where we can hear one another and where each and every person will be able to find their own place in the living Church, which is one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic. The diocesan bishops thank all the organisers, volunteers, and participants of the 37th World youth Day and all those who demonstrate to young people the beauty of everyday, living communion of the Church in another way, through retreats, pilgrimages, and other forms of permanent formation.

3. On September 10 this year we will be witnesses to a unique event. An entire family, Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children will be elevated to the glory of the altars. An unprecedented fact of the celebration is that one of the children was being given birth to during its mother’s martyrdom. The beatification will be held in Markowa, Podkarpacie Region, where the Ulma lived and were murdered for offering help to the Jews. Extending an invitation for a joint prayer during the celebrations, the bishops stressed that the decision of Pope Francis to beatify the entire family reaffirms that the Catholic Church always defends the truth about the sanctity of the family, which is the fundamental community of love, and the truth of human life, lasting from the moment of conception until natural death. The story of the Ulma Family is also a call to respect for all people, regardless of their origin.

4. In October we will celebrate the 45th anniversary of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła’s election to the See of Peter. The bishops reviewed the various initiatives to be taken on this occasion. One of the commemorations highlights will be the Eucharist celebrated in the Vatican Basilica on October 16, during which we will thank God for the Polish Pope. The bishops encourage deeper reflection on this unique pontificate and on the continued relevancy of St. John Paul II’s teachings.

5. As for the ongoing election campaign in Poland, the bishops urge that that it should be fair and that it should truly enable the agendas of the various candidates and parties to be known. Referring to the Position of the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops' Conference of May 2 this year, in the context of the upcoming elections, the bishops stressed the honourable aspect of political service. Once again, they call on politicians of all parties “to avoid the temptation of demagoguery and populism, ruthless discrediting of opponents or fuelling the existing deep divisions with unnecessary emotions”. The bishops encourage people to fulfil their civic duty in the spirit of responsibility for our Homeland.

6. Praying at the Jasna Góra shrine of the Queen of Poland, the diocesan bishops thank the many pilgrims who have come to stand before Her face this year. At this time of harvest, they also thank all those who work in the fields for their care for our daily bread. On the cusp of the new school year, the bishops also entrust to God the children and youth, along with their parents, teachers, and catechists.

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the pastors of the Church in Poland entrust to God all Compatriots in Poland and abroad and confer on them their blessing.

Council of Diocesan Bishops of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Jasna Góra, 25 August 2023

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