The Presidium of the Polish Bishops’ Conference invited Pope Leo XIV to Poland

https://episkopat.pl/doc/239524.Prezydium-Konferencji-Episkopatu-Polski-zaprosilo-papieza-Leona

https://episkopat.pl/doc/239539.La-Presidenza-della-Conferenza-Episcopale-Polacca-ha-invitato

Poland is close to the Holy Father's heart

The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda SAC, pointed out that ‘the Pope received us with great kindness’ and ‘took a keen interest in various matters’. ‘He said that he had visited Poland many times, that Poland is very close to his heart, and that he was happy that we could talk together,’ Archbishop Wojda noted.

‘I presented the Holy Father with a letter inviting him to Poland,’ said the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, adding that such invitations had already been extended by the former and current Presidents of the Republic of Poland and by some bishops. Archbishop Wojda emphasised that he told the Pope that 2027 marks the 150th anniversary of the apparitions in Gietrzwałd, so ‘it is a good opportunity.’ The Pope replied that he already has a lot of things on his calendar in 2026 and 2027, but that he will take it into consideration.

Archbishop Wojda said that Pope Leo XIV asked which pope had last visited Poland. He was told that Pope Francis had visited during World Youth Day in 2016.

The Holy Father gave his blessing to the bishops

The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference also thanked the Holy Father for appointing Cardinal Dominik Duka OP, now of blessed memory, as legate for the 100th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk. Unfortunately, Cardinal Duka was unable to attend the celebrations due to hospitalisation, but his homily was read out.

The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference said that the bishops had informed the Pope about the preparations of the Commission of Independent Experts to investigate the phenomenon of sexual abuse. ‘The Holy Father already knew about this because he had been informed,’ he added.

He noted that at the end of the audience, the Holy Father gave the bishops his blessing. 

The Holy Father received a facsimile of Cardinal Bolesław Kominek's manuscript

Archbishop Józef Kupny, Deputy President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, reported to the Holy Father on the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Polish bishops' Letter to the German bishops, which took place in Wrocław. ‘The Holy Father listened to my report with great interest,’ admitted Archbishop Kupny. He added that he had brought with him a facsimile of Cardinal Bolesław Kominek's manuscript and the response of the German bishops and handed them over to the Holy Father. ‘These documents will remain in Rome permanently and will serve as a reminder of what happened 60 years ago in Wrocław,’ he emphasised.

Archbishop Kupny admitted that this is a very important issue, because ‘we are divided’. ‘We all need to reach out. We need to reach out not only to Germans, now that relations are more tense, but also to Ukrainians, to our loved ones in our families, to our political opponents, and to those who think differently than we do,’ he pointed out.

The Pope's presence in Poland is expected and needed

During an audience with Pope Leo XIV, the Secretary General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Marek Marczak, spoke about the current activities of the Polish Episcopate and its relations with the Polish State. ‘I felt obliged to tell the Holy Father about these areas of our activity, about what the Polish Bishops’ Conference is currently working on, what documents it is preparing, but also about our relations with the Polish state, including the tensions that exist in these relations,’ he noted. ‘The Holy Father, through his diplomatic service, is aware of many of these issues, so many matters were close to his heart, he knew about them and asked for details,’ he admitted.

Bishop Marczak assessed that the Holy Father is familiar with the realities of Poland. ‘I think he is interested in visiting Poland,’ he added. ‘We discussed the prospects and the need for such a visit, as well as the Holy Father's role as a symbol of unity in the Church, and the Church's role as a symbol of reconciliation for all mankind. His presence in Poland is certainly expected and needed. We are counting on this visit,’ emphasised the Secretary General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The Holy Father's presence in Poland is certainly eagerly awaited and needed. We are counting on this visit - said the bishops during a press briefing, during which the Presidium of the Polish Bishops' Conference announced the invitation of Pope Leo XIV to Poland. pic.twitter.com/raAspknXKw

— Church in Poland (@ChurchInPoland) December 11, 2025