Statement of the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops on the current situation in the country

https://episkopat.pl/doc/255190.Stanowisko-Rady-Stalej-Biskupow-w-kontekscie-obecnej-sytuacji-w

https://episkopat.pl/doc/255239.Posizione-del-Consiglio-Permanente-dei-Vescovi-nel-contesto

We publish the full text of the Statement:

Statement of the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops on the current situation in the country

1. Independence Day is approaching, reminding us what a great blessing a free and independent Homeland is. With gratitude and a sense of responsibility, we remember all those who fought for it and helped build it. Unfortunately, we are witnessing deep social and political divisions that have been growing for years and are turning into hatred and aggression. Such attitudes stand in complete contradiction to what St John Paul II, following St Paul (cf. Gal 6:2), called us to in Gdynia when he said: “Solidarity - means: one and the other, and if burden - then a burden carried together, in the community. So never: one against another. (...) Fighting cannot be stronger than solidarity”.

2. “The Republic of Poland,” as our Constitution states, “shall be the common good of all its citizens” (Article 1). Responsibility for this common good rests primarily with politicians, who have been elected to fulfill this task and will be held accountable for it before God, the Nation and history.

3. Pope Leo XIV, during his most recent General Audience, said to the Polish faithful: “I call on you to recognize that peace is built on justice, respect for the law and dialogue, not on violence.” Together with the Holy Father, we believe in dialogue and reject violence and hatred; we believe in disarming our language and reject aggression. We also recall the words of St John Paul II, who said that “a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism” (Centesimus annus, 46).

4. Out of concern for the good of our Homeland and social peace, we once again call for a de-escalation of the conflict, the initiation of constructive dialogue, the peaceful resolution of all difficulties, putting aside prejudices and refraining from the use of force! All parties to the conflict need the gifts of prudence, humility and responsibility. As bishops, we declare our readiness to provide all possible assistance in initiating and supporting a process of mediation and dialogue in the search for solutions to the current crisis, as well as in building trust and fostering social reconciliation.

5. In this spirit, we call upon all the faithful in Poland to offer fervent prayers for social peace, national understanding and reconciliation. Let us pray for light and wisdom for those who govern and all those responsible for public life, so that concern for the common good of our society may be their foremost duty. Let us do so in these days using the words of the Supplications, the hymn Boże, coś Polskę (God Save Poland), and the Prayer for the Homeland by Fr. Piotr Skarga. Let us also fast and undertake penance next Tuesday, 10 November.

We invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland, and the Patron Saints of our Homeland, and impart our pastoral blessing to all our compatriots in Poland and abroad.

Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops

Warsaw, 4 November 2026

Prayer for the Homeland by Fr. Piotr Skarga

God, Ruler and Lord of nations,
from Your hand and discipline, please do not let us go,
and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, our Queen,
bless our Homeland, that she may always be faithful to You,
bring glory to Your Name
and lead her sons to happiness.

Almighty and Eternal God,
bestow upon us a broad and deep love for our brethren
and for our most beloved Mother, our Homeland,
that, forgetting our own interests,
we may serve her and Your people with integrity.

Send down the Holy Spirit upon Your servants
who govern our country,
that, according to Your will,
they may be able to guide wisely and justly
the people entrusted to their care.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.