President of the PBC after the plenary meeting: Synodality should enter into the bloodstream of Church life

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“The 392nd Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference focused on three themes: catechesis, the synod on synodality and the 25th anniversary of the visit of the Holy Father John Paul II in Zakopane,” said the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, summarizing the bishops’ meeting, which took place on 6 and 7 June in the center “Księżówka” in Zakopane.

Referring to the topic of catechesis, Archbishop Gądecki acknowledged that it is a complex issue because there is a natural differentiation between large cities and smaller towns and villages. He noted that in large cities the number of students participating in secondary catechesis has decreased, but in eastern dioceses or elementary schools, for example, the number has not been changing. He added that “a lot depends on what shape of an obligatory setting ethics or religion will have. This will result in a different approach of the students to these subjects”.

Referring to the second topic, the president of the Episcopate specified what synodality is: “Synodality is another way of building relations between the laity and the clergy that is different to the way that has existed so far. Each of our meetings may or may not have a synodal shape, and in that case it will fall short of the intention of the Holy Father Francis.”

Referring to the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s visit to the Zakopane Region, the Episcopal President emphasized the special relationship that existed between the Holy Father and this area with its people, which was expressed in the homage paid to him by the highlanders a quarter of a century ago. “We have not seen anything like that anywhere in the world what the highlanders expressed in the form of the homage in Zakopane,” he said.

PBC Press Office

Translated by Sr. Amata J. Nowaszewska / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference